Thursday, 14 November 2019

 Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:03): My question is to the minister for transport, and it is in relation to the unused VicTrack land—

Mr Jennings interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Leader of the Government! Would you like to ask your question from the start, Dr Cumming?

Dr CUMMING: Thank you, President. My question is to the minister for transport, and it is in relation to the unused VicTrack land near Yarraville station. Does the government have plans to repurpose this land to relocate parking from the level crossing approach to Yarraville station? Not all level crossings can be removed, and the Yarraville crossing is one such example. It is also one that has had regular near misses as well as several tragic accidents. The road narrows and has a slight rise, just enough to significantly hamper a driver’s view of whether the traffic in front of them is clear. The removal of parking approaching either side of the crossing and creating alternative parking on the VicTrack land that is unused and undeveloped is a potential opportunity to improve safety at this popular destination.

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (12:04): I thank Dr Cumming for her very detailed question. I feel more familiar with the area than perhaps I did a minute ago, when she started asking the question. I will seek a hopefully equally detailed response from the responsible minister.

 Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:04): I thank the minister for her response. I raised this question previously, and I did not receive a detailed response. Therefore I am doing another detailed question. If this is not in the government’s plans now, how is the government going to address the need for a safer and more effective crossing for both pedestrians and motorists, knowing that the council cannot remove the on-street parking on the approach to the Yarraville level crossing until the VicTrack land has been reconfigured and used for parking purposes? And with my last 20 seconds: could there be some level crossing money used for this purpose in Yarraville?

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (12:05): On the question of the Level Crossing Removal Project and its budgets, I will need to also confer with the Minister for Transport Infrastructure to provide a response to that part of the question. But I recognise Dr Cumming’s deep knowledge of the community that she is advocating for in respect of this area and this proposed solution, and I will provide a response with some support from both my colleagues in the transport department.

The PRESIDENT: So, as far as the Minister for Transport Infrastructure goes, will you gain advice outside what is prescribed in the standing orders?

Ms PULFORD: Yes, sure.