Tuesday, 7 March 2023

Western Victoria Region level crossing removals

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (18:03): (79) Tonight is the night for level crossing removals, I can tell you. I have just got to follow on from my eminent colleague Mr McCracken, who has identified the problem we have got outside the tram tracks of Melbourne. Now, you are busy removing level crossings in Melbourne – I think it is going to total about $30 billion by 2030 you are so busy removing them inside the tram tracks – but give us a break. Out in country Victoria we need some level crossings removed.

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, and it does relate, as I said, to level crossing removal. The action I seek is for her to get on down and remove some level crossings in – where are we going to? – Swanston Street, Kilgour Street and especially McKillop Street in Geelong, but we are also going to Lara. We need level crossings removed in the fine electorate of Lara. Unfortunately it is held by your side of the sticks, so they will never get one removed there. You need to get with the strength over the other side. Anyway, we need the Lara electorate one which is in St Georges Road and North Shore Road removed.

We have really got to look at having level crossings removed. If you can do it in $30 billion inside the tram tracks of Melbourne, what about poor old country Victoria? I am sure Ms Bath would have a few. You have a few down your end of the state. Mr Mulholland has got them. Probably they are all in the City of Yarra somewhere; it is amazing they have not got removed. Ms Broad will have some up in the north, won’t you. Look, we have all got level crossings.

A member: Diamond Creek.

Bev McARTHUR: Diamond Creek. Let us have Diamond Creek – throw that into the mix. We badly need you to start focusing on level crossing removals outside the tram tracks of Melbourne. Give us a break – get rid of our dreadful road infrastructure. You know, you cannot fix a pothole.

Evan Mulholland: They put in a flowerbed.

Bev McARTHUR: We are doing horticulture in your roads because you just cannot simply fill the potholes. There are community gardens now happening in roads in Mr Mulholland’s electorate. The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure needs to get with the strength and get out to country Victoria, and if you are going to remove every level crossing in Melbourne you had better get some removed in country Victoria.