LOCAL MP Jade Benham has queried the Victorian Government in State Parliament about three “overlooked” Mildura rail level crossings, saying they are in need of safety upgrades.
The Sunraysia Daily reported last month rail level crossings without lights, bells or boom gates had fallen to 47 per cent across the Victorian rail network, with the vast majority in rural or remote settings.
But crossings at Eighth, Ninth and Tenth streets in Mildura remained without the safety upgrades, with motorists required to obey Stop signs instead.
A Victorian Government spokesman said 140 regional crossings had been upgraded with boom gates since 2017 with more to follow, but gave no indication which crossings had been given priority under the the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model.
“Awareness campaigns such as our recent ‘Obey the Stop Signs’, remind motorists to always stop at a passive level crossing and check that it is clear before driving through,” the spokesman said.
Via a question on notice this week, Ms Benham asked Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne when the crossings would be prioritised, saying “immediate action” was required.
“These crossings are heavily trafficked by both pedestrians and motorists, yet they remain without fundamental safety measures such as lights, bells, or boom gates,” she said.
“The risk is real, and we cannot afford to wait any longer.”
Three freight trains are scheduled to run in each direction through Mildura to and from Merbein each week and are restricted to a speed limit of 25km/h, with drivers required to sound the train horn 400 metres before they reach a crossing.
But Ms Benham said the warning system was “outdated and inadequate”.
“Safe level crossings are a fundamental necessity, particularly in a busy urban area, yet we are continually overlooked,” she said.
The Victorian rail network has 1639 public road level crossings on passenger and freight lines, with the ongoing Statewide Crossing Upgrade program having added warning systems to 27 over the last five years.
