July 18, 2026 — 7:00pmIn the heart of Yarraville, the Anderson Street level crossing has been central to inner-west life for 150 years.Now a proposal to stop any movement of cars across the rail line, block off part of a busy retail strip to vehicles and create a pedestrian-only plaza has sparked fierce debate over the suburb’s future.Yarraville locals are divided on plans to remove a level crossing. Robert Price and Louise Beach fear it will transform the suburb for the worse.Jason SouthMany traders are bracing for a financial hit, and some locals worry the area’s charm will fade under the current plan, while others are relieved that safety concerns and the long wait to cross the tracks are being addressed.There are no plans to upgrade heritage-listed Yarraville station. Instead, all pedestrian and vehicle movement over the rail line would stop, and the ground-level pedestrian crossing would be replaced with two underpasses.One block of the Anderson Street shopping strip would be shut to vehicles and 19 parking spots relocated under the state government plan, part of its level crossing removal project.Neighbours Louise Beach and Robert Price are among locals fighting back against the design they fear will fracture Yarraville’s shopping precinct into “east versus west”, including by having an underpass with stairs and lifts near the main shopping strip instead of a ramp.A second underpass with ramps is being built north of the station, which under the plan requires a home owned by a local family to be demolished. Wee Jeanie Cafe, a spot known for its outdoor dining area, and two golden elm trees would also go.“We’ve got something so unique here, and it will change that forever,” Beach said. “You don’t need to have a crystal ball to see that.”Price said: “It could really transform Yarraville for the worse.”Utopia Skin Solutions owner Leanne Jones worries about how her business will cope financially once traffic heading towards the city stops and construction increases over several years.She believes something needs to be done to stop people getting stuck waiting for trains to pass, but she isn’t convinced the current design works and is concerned the community feel of the village will disappear.“I’m worried that it will cause a divide with Yarraville,” she said. “With businesses on one side and businesses on the other side, it won’t create that flow.”Utopia Skin Solutions owner Leanne Jones is bracing for a financial hit once construction on the level crossing removal starts.Jason SouthYarraville and Kingsville Business Association president Dave Cox said businesses were bracing for a drop in revenue, partly due to a loss of foot traffic if a second underpass north of the station was built as many people would bypass the shopping village.Yuko Kasai and Ryan O’Sullivan were devastated and surprised to learn the home they raised their three children in would be acquired to make way for an underpass.Kasai said the home was used by family or friends when not leased out as a short-term rental, and it was the home where her children had created many childhood memories.“It’s part of our family, basically, so we don’t want to lose it,” she said.Yarraville resident Yuko Kasai said her three children were sad to learn the house they grew up in would be demolished.Jason SouthO’Sullivan, who is the chief executive of a town planning firm, said demolishing the house was not the only way to create a new way to cross the tracks, and countless other options were available.He said the community had been let down by the “monster” design, which was presented as a fait accompli, and he had commissioned consultants, urban designers and town planners to come up with alternatives.“I’m disappointed [the removal authority] are refusing to budge from their preferred plan,” he said.“There are clear opportunities for them to avoid this and get a better outcome.”Many Yarraville locals have concerns about current plans for the Anderson Street level crossing.Jason SouthAuthorities say 2500 vehicles drive across the tracks at Anderson Street each day and boom gates are down for almost an hour during the morning peak.While many locals have concerns, others hope the changes will be positive, particularly as the new blocked-off area would be around the corner from the existing pedestrian zone outside the Sun Theatre and other businesses.Local Chris Veitch has seen pedestrians try to sneak across the rail line once boom gates were down and thinks removing the level crossing would be the safest option. She said she would still visit a car-free Anderson Street.“It would be more relaxed if it was closed off. There are so many great shops here and cafes,” she said.Nearby resident Steve Gilder backs a new underpass, and while he isn’t keen on trees or buildings being knocked down, he said something must be done as crossing the rail line was difficult.“It just comes to a complete standstill,” he said.An artist’s impression of Yarraville level crossing removal design showing Anderson Street blocked off to traffic.Sun Theatre owner Michael Smith has not driven down Anderson Street for at least a decade because he doesn’t want to get stuck at the boom gates. He likes the idea of a new area blocked off to traffic if executed properly, but wants the ramp underpass to be closer to the shops.“So many malls just end up looking cold, clinical and dirty, whereas if you look at the way the road was closed in Ballarat Street in front of the cinema, the community loves it – it’s always busy,” he said. “Finding that warmth would be important.”Maribyrnong Council wants the crossing removal to be paused until it receives more information about the current plan and alternative design options are considered, a motion set to be voted on next week states.Authorities are reviewing feedback from recent community consultation, and works are scheduled to start in 2027.Sun Theatre owner Michael SmithJason SouthA Level Crossing Removal Project spokesperson said the Anderson Street level crossing was one of Melbourne’s most dangerous, with one death and four serious injuries since 2006.The spokesperson said building a ramp at the Anderson Street underpass – instead of the northern underpass – would have a greater impact on local properties, businesses, heritage features and trees due to narrow space constraints.“Providing two accessible rail underpasses with lifts, stairs and ramp options caters to a wide range of users with different mobility needs – allowing Anderson Street to become a pedestrian-friendly community plaza with more open space for outdoor dining,” the spokesperson said.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. 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