By Candice Boyle
A PUBLIC meeting will be held this Thursday to discuss the safety risks surrounding the Yarraville level crossing.
Greens MLC Colleen Hartland has called for immediate action to put an end to the situation that saw a council garbage tuck hit a passenger train at the crossing recently.
She said the meeting was essential as there was a lot of “new information the public needs to know”.
Ms Hartland said the meeting would discuss a Maribyrnong City Council report, the truck accident and a letter from Transport Minister Lynne Kosky.
She hoped a community group would be formed at the meeting to further focus on the issue.
“Our office will continue to advocate the issue and support any campaign group formed to raise awareness of the issue,” she said.
“We really need to rev up the campaign to make the Yarraville crossing safe for pedestrians and traffic.”.
Since the accident, which left a council worker with a broken collarbone, Ms Hartland said drivers had continued to cross the level crossing illegally.
“(Last Wednesday) the boom gates were down for 10 solid minutes before the 8.01 am train, and people had to choose between crossing illegally or waiting 20 minutes for the next train.
“Of course some crossed illegally, and thank goodness they were lucky, but we cannot rely on luck any more,” she said.
Leaflets advertising the meeting will be handed out at the Yarraville station and distributed to businesses in the surrounding area.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 July, at 7.30pm at the Yarraville Senior Citizens Centre at 48 Fehon St in Yarraville.
