Question marks hang over the state government’s level crossing removal program after revelations Yarraville and Spotswood crossing were left out, despite being identified on a secret priority list.
VicRoads’ strategic framework for the prioritisation of level crossings in metropolitan Melbourne report reveals Anderson Street and Hudsons Road crossings are among the worst in the state for boom gate closure times and safety risks.
The report listed both among its 45 priorities, yet neither made the government’s list of 50 grade separations to be funded by the controversial privatisation of the Port of Melbourne.
Statistics ignored
Yarraville’s boom gates are down for up to 30 minutes each hour during peak periods, with up to 20 trains passing through hourly – the third worst rate in the state – and this is predicted to rise to 35 minutes every hour in peak times by 2022.
Yarraville was also shown to have the state’s fourth highest rate of fatalities, serious injuries, collisions and near misses, yet the government has repeatedly rejected campaigns for the return of a pedestrian underpass or creation of an overpass to help with safety concerns.
The document, prepared mid-2014 but only released this month, has prompted claims of pork barrelling in marginal seats.
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland said boom gates at one of the crossings being removed in a marginal northern suburbs seat are down just eight per cent of the time.
“This is clearly pork barrelling and it’s just wrong,” she said. “It shocking to think that lives will continue to be at risk as we are not a marginal electorate.”
Ms Hartland has backed the community campaign for a pedestrian crossing at Yarraville, raising the matter in Parliament earlier this year.
Future considertion
Kosta Pandos, a spokesman for the public transport minister Jacinta Allan, said the government took a clear list of the 50 level crossings it intends to remove to the election.
“The 50 crossings chosen were based on significant stakeholder and community consultation, as well as using a variety of published data and information, including crash history, boom gate down times, local safety improvements, and road congestion,” he said.
“The Anderson Street and Hudson Road crossings have not been identified for removal in the first 50, but will be considered in the future.”
