Council stoush flares up over contentious level crossing

Labor’s mayoral hopeful Tracey Price will commit $30 million on a contentious northern Brisbane level crossing in a bid to improve safety and ease congestion.

Labor’s mayoral hopeful Tracey Price will commit $30 million on a contentious northern Brisbane level crossing in a bid to improve safety and ease congestion.

The Banyo rail level crossing will become a fully signalised intersection under a Labor council, the party has pledged.

The state government completed a study on upgrade options for the crossing with Ms Price accusing Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner for failing to act on the project.

The Labor announcement will promote its action on the “notoriously dangerous crossing” and criticise the LNP’s Brisbane Metro project as “useless Metro bendy buses”.

Labor Lord Mayor candidate Tracey Price – Photo: Steve Pohlner.

But the LNP dismissed the plan as an “ineffective waste of money that will make congestion worse”, which was $10 million less than the council’s current plan to improve level crossings.

Ms Price promised to call on the state government to contribute funds to deliver the upgrade, which she said Banyo, Nudgee and Northgate residents have pleaded for.

“After 20 years of the LNP in charge, Brisbane is now the most congested capital city in the country,” she said.

“I’m committed to making it safer for everyone to get around our city and suburbs as we head towards 2032.”

Labor’s Northgate ward candidate Vicki Ryan said there had been “far too many incidents” at the Banyo crossing.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Picture Lachie Millard

“The people of Banyo have been let down by the current councillor (LNP’s Adam Allan),” she said.

“He has actively refused to work with the state member Leanne Linard, who has been pushing for the co-ordinated approach between both levels of government to get this done.”

But Mr Allan said on Saturday morning his opponents “should be embarrassed” by the announcement given it equates to a cut.

“Our council has a standing commitment to invest $40 million towards all state government level crossing removal projects yet what Tracey Price and Labor have put forward is a costly and ineffective waste of money that will make congestion worse,” he said.

“Tracey Price needs to explain why she plans to cut funding for this open level crossing project.”