Brimbank council is calling on the state government to urgently remove three level crossings on the Ballarat line, saying it is just a matter of time before a fatality occurs.
The council wants grade separations at level crossings on Robinsons and Station roads in Deer Park, and Fitzgerald Road in Sunshine West, claiming that boom gates are down for up to 40 minutes during the morning peak.
“The situation here is absolutely ridiculous,” Cr Lucinda Congreve said.
“We have several intersections along the Ballarat line that are being impacted by these level crossings … with queues in excess of 650 metres at times.
“It really is a joke. There are level crossings in Laverton and Werribee that are having separations done now that carry far less traffic than our level crossings do, and I want to understand why.”
Cr Congreve proposed a notice of motion at last week’s meeting to write to state ministers and shadow ministers with the council’s concerns about the intersections.
The council will also invite them to visit the level crossings with councillors during the morning peak to “witness first-hand the disruption and impact on the local community”.
None of the three local intersections are included on The Level Crossing Removal Authority list of more than 50 crossings across Melbourne to be removed.
Cr Congreve said if changes were not made soon there could be traumatic results.
“This is a significant safety issue,” she said. “When we had our council officers on site, they witnessed people driving around the boom gates and cars queueing across the tracks.”
