By VANESSA VALENZUELA
WORKS on the notorious level crossing in St Albans could be delayed by a fight between State and Federal governments.
Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten said he has been calling for bipartisan support to fund a traffic underpass at the site but believes “the state coalition continue to neglect Melbourne’s West”.
However, a community consultation meeting in December was told that building an overpass at the crossing was also an option.
“Everyone knows different levels of government are responsible for different areas,” Mr Shorten said.
“The State Government does level crossings, for example, the Federal Government pays for submarines,” Mr Shorten told Star.
“We don’t expect the Victorian Government to pay for defence but I do expect Premier Baillieu to pay for level crossings.”
Mr Shorten said the St Albans railway crossing is one of the most dangerous crossings in Victoria.
“It’s disappointing the State Government continues to drag its heels on funding the grade separation,” he said.
“This year we want to see St Albans railway crossing underground once and for all.”
Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn said Mr Shorten had announcedbipartisan support to fund the underpass to thousands of people at the St Albans Lunar Festival last week
Mr Finn said he was disappointed Mr Shorten had accused the Baillieu government of neglecting the West.
“The Labor Party has refused to build this project for over a decade and Bill Shorten is living up to the Labor tradition of lying to the electorate,” Mr Finn said.
“He has attempted to mislead the people of St Albans, thousands of them, and tell them the Federal Government was going to kick in.”
Mr Finn said the “devious and mean-spirited stunt” was an insult to residents living in Melbourne’s West.
“Is it any wonder why people have no regards for politicians when you see this short of cheap stunt by a senior cabinet minister of the Federal Government?”
Mr Finn said the State Government is committed to funding works at the crossing, with or without help from the Federal Government.
A business case for the level crossing was prepared by VicRoads last year and will be submitted to the State Government in early 2013 for funding consideration.
