Drivers and pedestrians are dicing with death at the Old Geelong Road level crossing, with six near-misses reported since May last year.
Yet neither Labor nor the Coalition has committed to removing the level crossings.
Labor has included the Werribee and Cherry streets crossings on its list of the 50 it has pledged to remove if it wins the state election.
The Coalition has not committed to removing any level crossings on the Werribee line, yet.
As part of Wyndham council’s anti- congestion campaign, it has urged both parties to remove all level crossings across the city.
As reported by Star Weekly on October 15, Suzanne Cory High School teacher Nick Cummins said the school was concerned for the safety of 600 students who use the Old Geelong Road level crossing regularly.
He described the crossing as “an accident waiting to happen”.
Mayor Bob Fairclough said removing the Old Geelong Road level crossing was a priority as it was already well beyond its capacity.
Tarneit MP and opposition treasury spokesman Tim Pallas said Labor’s priority list of dangerous level crossings was developed based on information from the RACV and the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model.
“Fatalities have occurred at both the Cherry and Werribee-Cottrell streets crossings, and they have been given priority,” he said.
The most recent level crossing fatality in Wyndham was at Cherry Street in May 2012. However, figures from Transport Safety Victoria reveal there have been only two near- misses here involving a person or vehicle since May last year.
RACV roads and traffic manager Dave Jones said removing level crossings reduced the need for people to take unnecessary risks.
