Mr  Pallas  (Tarneit)  —  I  raise the  issue of  the level  crossings in  my electorate of Tarneit. There  is increasing concern  in  my community about  not just the frustration of delays and heavy traffic but also the safety concerns. A number of serious accidents occurred last year at these crossings, including one fatality. Three of the crossings in Tarneit are in the top 20  priority list for fixing — a list developed by the Department of  Transport.  Werribee  Street is no. 7; Cherry Street is no. 13 and the Old Geelong Road is no. 19.

On  10  October  2011  the Minister for Roads announced that 13 level  crossings would be fixed under this  government.  That  was  part  of  the so-called metro metropolitan level crossings blitz. However, none of those — and neither of the two in the department’s top 13 — were on the list. It is now apparent that only two of the level crossings projects announced by the minister will  be completed in this term  of office. They are  at Rooks Road and Springvale Road.  In  comparison  the  previous government undertook eight level crossing  projects  in  its  last term:  the  projects  at  Middleborough  Road, Springvale Road,  Taylors Road and  Kororoit Creek Road; three grade separations at  the Dynon Port rail  link; and the Palmers  Road  extension. That is not  to mention the two level crossings at Anderson Road, Sunshine, which were announced and planned as part of the regional rail link.

Finally,  this is  a  government  that promises  much  but delivers  little  and distorts priorities in terms of safety  on  level crossings. This action must be addressed  in  order  to   ensure  safety  and  effective  movement  through  my electorate.

See Tim’s speech in Hansard here.