By Stephen Linnell
WYNDHAM’S three major railway crossings have been rated among the most dangerous in the state.
The Werribee St crossing was ranked the seventh most dangerous, with the Cherry St crossing ranked 13th and that at Hoppers Crossing (Old Geelong Rd) 19th.
The results were part of a two-year State Government audit of Victoria’s 1872 level crossings, which were ranked according to nationally agreed safety criteria.
Wyndham mayor Kim McAliney said the damning report highlighted the need for urgent funding to tackle safety issues at the municipality’s railway crossings.
“The State Government report identified that the top 200 railway crossings had a higher risk rating due to the volume of traffic crossing the line,” she said.
“This is certainly the case at level crossings in Wyndham, with large volumes of traffic congested at the crossings every day.
“Wyndham is the fastest growing city in the State and building approvals indicate that the growth is set to continue. This will exacerbate safety issues at Wyndham’s level crossings unless urgent action is taken.”
As a result of the audit, the State Government has committed to upgrading eight rail crossings over the next six weeks.
Cr McAliney said she was hopeful that the Werribee St level crossing would be among them.
According to the council, 25,000 vehicles cross the railway line daily and that figure is set to triple with the development of new housing estates west of the Werribee River.
“Wyndham Council has advocated strongly for traffic issues at the Werribee St railway crossing to be addressed and continues to highlight the need for traffic to be diverted away from the intersection,” Cr McAliney said.
She said the council was still waiting for the final VicRoads report on the contentious Werribee St/Cottrell St redevelopment. The State Government failed to provide funding for the upgrade in this month’s budget.
“The release of this report further highlights the need for these projects to be undertaken as a matter of urgency. Without a major infrastructure investment in reducing traffic at the Werribee St railway crossing, it is set to become the most dangerous in the state.”
Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the worst 200 crossings outlined in the report all had boom gates, flashing lights and warning bells, but were more dangerous because of the amount of traffic.
“What this list does is give a clear picture … of where we need to make improvements to ensure drivers are doing the right thing at level crossings,” Ms Kosky said.
“It will guide to where we best put our investment in terms of improving level crossings around the state.
“We will be upgrading at least another eight crossings over the next six weeks, so when these works are completed their scores will change, as will their positions on the list.”
Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder called on Ms Kosky to release more details from the audit.
“(The report) has been gutted and it has been sanitised for public release. It tells you nothing,” Mr Mulder said.
“What is wrong with these crossings? I don’t understand why they don’t release that information.
“How many trains go through the crossings? How many cars go through?.
“It could have been accidents and it could have been near misses, but all that information has been removed from this report.”
