Tuesday, 15 August 2023

Progress Street, Dandenong South, level crossing

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (16:31): (387) My adjournment is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in the other place, and I asked this question previously on 1 June 2023 but was advised that the question needed to be directed to the minister for transport. I thought the Minister for Roads and Road Safety would have passed this on, but this was not the case. So the action I seek is for the minister to supply information in writing to all the local businesses on Progress Street and Fowler Road that are being subjected to what can be only called a huge inconvenience of parking, congestion, safety and productivity losses due to this government’s insistence on removing the level crossing on Progress Street in Dandenong. We require therefore information on the following three measures from the minister: (1) safety solutions for trucks that will have to pass each other on the narrow hump bridge to Fowler Road; (2) safety measures and solutions implemented so that these trucks can enter the South Gippsland Highway without putting themselves or others at risk; and (3) a commitment in writing with a date for the long-term solution of a bypass extension. The Big Build has been advertised on the internet site, and so has this level crossing removal. It said the following:

We’re removing the level crossing –

and proudly –

at Progress Street, Dandenong South …

I might add this is a level crossing that none of the businesses want removed. They went on to say:

… and building a new road bridge connecting Progress Street and Fowler Road.

This road, however, is going to be too narrow for these trucks, and they are going to have to wait for each other or play chicken as they go across this bridge. This new road, it said:

… will provide businesses in this busy industrial precinct with safer access to Princes Highway via South Gippsland Highway.

This is simply not the case. There is nothing at present put in place to make it a safer option. At the moment they have traffic lights. At the moment they have a level crossing that is not near a station, so the trains go past quickly. They are quite happy to wait for 30 seconds so that they can be on their wide streets and be able to get through to the Princes Highway. This diversion to Fowler Road is going to mean that they are going to have to go around all the parked traffic through a narrow road, where there are other businesses that will also be inconvenienced, and then risk their lives and the lives of their passengers and others as they try to cross over the South Gippsland Highway – and why? Just so this government can say that they ticked a box and removed another level crossing. What a waste of taxpayers money, creating a safety hazard that will impact important Victorian businesses and services.

I am telling you this is simply not good enough and the businesses are telling you it is simply not good enough either. This is a fundamental failure of this government to genuinely consult with people and come up with solutions. There are 50,000 vehicle movements a week in this area, and trucks cannot pass each other on the hump bridge. The government have not provided any solution, even though they are aware of the issue, so I ask the minister to provide in writing the information that we have requested.