Vic sky rail opponents face court deadline

Residents trying to halt construction of the Victorian government's $1.6 billion sky rail project have been given until the end of the week to apply for an extension - or the government will move to have their claim dismissed.

Melbourne group Lower Our Tracks Incorporated (LOTI) has launched legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court in a bid to prevent the government building the elevated rail track that will remove nine level crossings on the Pakenham Cranbourne line.

The group is seeking a declaration that the government's decision to allow the sky rail is "improper".

They claim "the decision was so unreasonable that no reasonable decision maker could have arrived at it", citing a lack of consultation and transparency.

Government barrister David Batt QC on Tuesday told the court the group's application was out of time and he would seek a summary dismissal if they did not apply for an extension.

Justice Karin Emerton gave the group until 4pm on Friday to apply for an extension.

A government spokesman said the planning process for removing the nine level crossings was a standard planning scheme amendment and has been used by multiple governments to deliver essential projects for the state.