The removal of the level crossing at Heatherton Road in Noble Park has cleared the way—quite literally—for new housing. Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed that the freed-up land will now host 97 social homes, part of Victoria’s broader push to tackle housing shortages through the Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund.
The new homes will sit close to public transport, jobs and community services. The first residents are expected to move in by 2027. They will be part of a larger collaboration between the state and federal governments, with funding drawn from the Housing Australia Future Fund. While most transport upgrades tend to focus on smoother commutes, this one will come with front doors and mailboxes.
Speaking from the site, Allan said the homes will be modern, secure and designed to fit seamlessly into the local area. “This development will provide nearly 100 households on our social housing register with bright, modern, secure and well-connected homes that they can be proud of.” The project also aligns with the state’s goal of delivering over 13,000 social and affordable homes across Victoria.
The Premier’s office pointed out that this isn’t the first time a transport project has opened up room for housing. Similar efforts are underway in places like Gardiner, Rosanna and Murrumbeena. The government’s approach is to use transport infrastructure projects as a lever to unlock extra land—not just for cars and trains but for people needing a place to live.
Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said the housing outcome was no accident. “This is exactly the kind of opportunity that our major projects have made possible—thanks to our Level Crossing Removal Program, we’ve created more space for much-needed homes, close to transport and community precincts.”
The Noble Park announcement comes as the government also marked its 86th level crossing removal—this time at Diggers Rest. Alongside the removal, a new overpass named the Golden Way Bridge is set to open this week. It replaces the bottleneck where the Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road once faced frequent train delays, with up to 27 services passing during morning peak hours alone.
The bridge name was chosen to reflect Diggers Rest’s history as a rest stop during Victoria’s gold rush. While the state opposition had pushed for the road to be named after former federal MP Julia Gillard, community input saw the more locally rooted Golden Way win out.
By removing the crossing, the government expects traffic to flow more freely through the area, cutting delays and reducing the risk of collisions. It also means the Sunbury line edges closer to being fully separated from road traffic, with 10 more level crossings to be removed before year’s end.
Allan said that these upgrades, while costly and often disruptive during construction, are paying off—not just in travel time but in livability. “We’re making communities safer and opening up land that can serve more than one purpose. In this case, homes.”
Housing advocates welcomed the announcement but noted that much more will be needed to meet current demand. According to some estimates, tens of thousands of social homes are still needed across the state. Critics argue that while new builds are welcome, delays in approvals and patchy delivery timelines continue to frustrate those on waiting lists.
The government maintains it is on track. According to the Premier’s office, more than 8,200 homes have been completed or are under construction, with planning underway for the rest. Sites like Noble Park, they say, are ideal—offering well-located, government-owned land that’s already connected to public amenities.
There are no promises that every crossing removal will deliver housing. But the idea of using rail upgrades to create social benefit seems to be gaining ground within planning circles. And for the 97 future residents of Noble Park, a train-free road will also mean a home to call their own.
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