STATE government claims that formal planning has begun for the removal of two St Albans railway crossings are being disputed by traders and opposition MPs.
The claims come in the wake of two more deaths in separate incidents at the crossings in the past week.
St Albans Traders Association secretary Asip Demiri said he was appalled that documents obtained by the opposition under freedom of information (FOI) laws showed only two drafts for the Main Road and Furlong Road crossings had been submitted to the Transport Department since early 2010.
Western suburbs Liberal MPs have long maintained that planning for the removal of the crossings was under way.
“As if we haven’t been told enough lies, why do we have [to lose] more lives before something is done,” Mr Demiri said.
A letter addressed to opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Richardson and seen by the Weekly stated: “Except for two draft copies of Public Accounts and Estimates Committee briefs, no documents relating to Main Road and Furlong Road, St Albans, have been identified as Department of Transport involvement concluded in early 2010.”
Over the same period, a series of reports were submitted by contracting companies involved in the works to improve Brighton’s New Street crossing. The documents secured through FOI included ministerial briefs, advanced planning and on-site investigation works undertaken by contractors.
No date has been set for the long-promised removal of the Main Road crossing despite it being No.4 on the state government’s priority list. Brighton Beach is No.223.
Mr Demiri called for immediate action. “This government was jumping up and down promising action while it was in opposition, but now they are doing the exact same as the former government.”
In July, Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn told the Weekly that the ball was already rolling on planning for the complicated grade separation. Last week, Mr Finn said no plans had been submitted to the department because rough drafts weren’t complete. “The St Albans grade separation is a massive project and we want to get it right.”
Mr Finn said he had discussed the project with the department two weeks ago, but he couldn’t say when plans would be drawn up. “What I can say is that physical work will begin in this government’s first term.”
Ms Richardson said the documents showed the government prioritised the Brighton crossing ahead of more dangerous crossings in St Albans. “The government has allocated millions of dollars to upgrade a disused crossing in Brighton and not one single solitary cent to start work at the two St Albans crossings.”
