Hundreds of native trees that grow alongside the Hurstbridge railway line could be cut down and replaced with two-metre high concrete barriers if a proposal to carve an extended rail trench through central Rosanna goes ahead.
The trees, mostly mature river red gums that populate the Rosanna Parklands, would make way for a 1.4-kilometre trench along the park's western edge under one design option the state government has put forward for the removal of the Lower Plenty Road level crossing.
![Friends of Salt Creek are concerned that 500 native trees could be felled to make way for a 1.4km railway trench.](/web/20161018054009im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/q/d/t/f/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.grqiqs.png/1475073702059.jpg)
Three designs have been unveiled by the Level Crossing Removal Authority.
The other two proposals put forward to locals in the past week both feature an 800-metre rail bridge across Lower Plenty Road and along the perimeter of the 25-hectare park.
Work to separate the busy road-rail crossing is due to begin next year as part of the Andrews government's $6-$7 billion project to remove 50 level crossings by 2022.
The designs have been met with apprehension by residents, some of whom questioned whether removing the crossing was worth it, given its dramatic toll on a much-loved park.
Volunteer groups, including the Friends of Salt Creek, have worked to beautify the park over several years through occasional tree and shrub planting days.
Friends of Salt Creek president Louise Muller said some of the trees that stand beside the rail line are hundreds of years old. Ms Muller visited the park this week to count how many trees were under threat and estimates 400 to 500 would make way for a rail trench.
"To most people the thought of losing 500 trees is totally unacceptable," Ms Muller said.
The authority warned in its presentation that tree loss in the area could be even greater because a trench could lower the local water table.
Ms Muller said the community had been given two unpalatable options: an imposing bridge or a huge loss of trees.
Rail bridges have become a political headache for Labor, which has encountered fierce local opposition to its "sky rail" project between Caulfield and Dandenong and on sections of the Frankston line.
The Rosanna rail bridge, if built, would run along Ellesmere Parade, a low-rise residential street, and would either be on concrete pylons or an embankment. It would mean most trees in the park would be spared.
The preferred design is expected to be announced next year.
Another resident, Joc Forsyth, said he doubted removing the crossing would reduce congestion on Lower Plenty Road, given the rail tracks are near multiple pedestrian crossings, a shopping centre and a major intersection.
"There is very little to be gained by the removal of this crossing from a road traffic point of view," Mr Forsyth said.
The boom gates at Lower Plenty Road are down for 43 minutes in the two-hour morning peak and the road is used by an average 17,000 vehicles a day.
The Hurstbridge line is also being duplicated between Rosanna and Heidelberg, removing a bottleneck and enabling a future boost to train services.
The Level Crossing Removal Authority says a trench would mean greater tree loss due to the need to keep trees distant from the rail line for safety.
The decision about whether a trench or a bridge is built will be based on several factors, including how the community would like the area to be shaped, technical engineering assessments, and value for money, it said.
Project director Steve Brown said: "We've had a great turnout at information sessions so far, and would encourage the community to continue to provide their feedback as the project develops."