By ALESHA CAPONE
THE Federal and State Governments have become embroiled in a war of words over a funding deal on the St Albans level crossing.
Last week, Star reported Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten had criticized the Victorian Government for turning down an offer of $90 million to create a grade separation at the Main Rd crossing.
The State Government would need to match the amount for the deal to go ahead.
However, the State Government said the offer was made up of “unrealised savings” left over from other projects.
They said asked the Federal Government needed to offer real money, “not un-realised savings which may not eventuate”.
But last week Mr Shorten held a press conference near the crossing, attended by St Albans MP Marlene Kairouz and Dianne Dejanovic, whose son Christian was killed at the spot more than a year ago.
Mr Shorten said the $90 million was from the Commonwealth’s infrastructure budget and was “money in the bank”.
He said the national Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, wrote the Victorian Government twice to offer them the amount and also had a face-to-face meeting to discuss the crossing.
“The Liberal Government made it clear it wasn’t their priority and they weren’t going to match that amount of money,” Mr Shorten said.
“I am appalled by the Napthine Government’s decision to knock back this offer, it’s simply unacceptable.”
Ms Dejanovic said since Christian was killed on 24 January 2012, three other deaths have happened “in very close proximity to the railway crossing.”
“Why is acceptable to have emergency service workers and train drivers going to work every day, knowing that they may be coming here with this risk?” she said.
Ms Dejanovic said she hoped to meet with other families affected by deaths at the crossing. Contact: 0407 510 217.
