Coopers Plains railway crossing chaos puts lives and businesses at risk
FOR decades the notorious Coopers Plains railway crossing has been a political football with State Government and Brisbane City Council arguing over who will fund an overpass — here’s where it’s at.
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FOR decades the notorious Coopers Plains railway crossing has been a political football with State Government and Brisbane City Council arguing over who will fund an overpass — and nothing has changed.
Despite $500,000 being allocated for a business case plan, to show the impact of undertaking the project, in the 2018-19 State Budget and a further $200,000 in the following financial year, it will be years before plans or construction will come to fruition. Annamarie Newton, a Nathan resident and Acacia Ridge business owner, is among residents in the area campaigning for the dangerous and disruptive Boundary Rd level crossing to be fixed.
Mrs Newton said the crossing was a source of frustration for motorists who were forced to wait for lengthy periods for the trains to pass, which occurs every 12 minutes, and more frequently during peak hours.
She said drivers and pedestrians often took their life into their own hands and ran the gauntlet as the lights and boom gate signalled a train was approaching.
“Between the pie van and myself we have to make a number of daily trips across the tracks and we try to time effectively (the) trains coming through,” the Raymondz Lunch Spot owner said.
“Sometimes we win, a lot of times you are forced to wait. (I have) seen many near misses both with cars and pedestrians.”
The State Government plans to come to the table with 50 per cent funding for the overpass if and when the Brisbane City Council match the financial commitment.
But at the moment, council is only looking to fork out 15 per cent for the overpass, which is estimated to cost $200 million.
Both State Member for Toohey Peter Russo and Councillor Steve Griffiths (Moorooka) have lobbied to fix the crossing and are all for a 50-50 funding split.
It comes after council and State Government went 50-50 to construct railway overpasses at Geebung and Bracken Ridge, on the city’s northside.
Cr Griffiths told the Southern Star that council needed to “step up with 50 per cent of the money” and “fast-track” the project. He flagged the need for funding ahead of council handing down its 2018-19 budget this month to no avail.
“The land is already there,” Cr Griffiths said.
“Why should the southside be treated differently to the northside?” Mr Russo added.
Cr Griffiths said while the need for the crossing had been there for about 40 years it was more important now more than ever before because a “big development” was planned for the corner of Boundary and Orange Grove roads, right next to the cross, which would add further traffic congestion to the area. Mr Russo said: “Without the business case study we don’t know what the solution is.
“The cost, how long it will take to do it, the disruptions and how it will impact on local businesses and residents.”
Mr Russo said the study would be “rolled out as the year progresses”.
“My belief is this is the first time pen has been put to paper,” he said of the business case study. Some people will love it, some will hate it.” He said the “majority” of locals he’d spoken with about the crossing were in support of the overpass.
“It needs to be addressed and fixed … to improve the safety of the community.”
Mr Russo has been accused by Anthony Shorten, the 2017 candidate for Toohey, of promising to fix the crossing as part of his 2015 election campaign. But he told the Star he’d only said he would “lobby hard” to get it fixed. “I would never have said ‘I will get it fixed’ because there are too many variables,” he said.
‘Worrying’ number of strikes
The Coopers Plains level crossing has one of the highest number of boom gate strikes in the past decade, according to the State’s peak motoring body.
RACQ spokeswoman Lucinda Ross said it was “worrying” there had been more than 30 boom gate strikes over the past seven years at the Boundary Rd level railway crossing.
“There’s no excuse for colliding into boom gates — you’re putting yourself and others at risk,” she said.
“There are plenty of warnings, flashing lights and ringing bells alerting motorists that there’s a train coming. Collisions with boom gates can cause serious harm as well as disrupting train services for potentially hundreds of people.
“If the lights are flashing, don’t risk it. Waiting a few moments for a train to pass won’t kill you, but running the gauntlet at a rail crossing can.”
Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett: “It’s time to get on with a solution that will permanently fix the Coopers Plains level crossing, a priority that has been identified by not only the local community, but also by the State’s peak motoring body, the RACQ.
“Locals are sick of the buck-passing. “It’s only fair that the cost should be shared equally between the three levels of government: federal, state and council.
“It’s time to get this mess fixed. 15% from the Brisbane City Council is totally inadequate,” he said.
Facebook users drive issue home
Coopers Plains residents and motorists who use Boundary Rd often vent their frustrations on Facebook regularly — here’s what they’re saying.
Joey Griffo took to the Fix Coopers Plains X-ing page: “Someone will be killed here soon and the some politician will have to live with the indecision on this.”
Luke Brunner agreed by saying: “Won’t be fixed until someone dies, like anything in government someone has to die for change to happen.”
And Lisa Dickie also agrees: “ … Build a fly over, do something it is awful and a lot of people aren’t even aware of the rules! Have seen many make a run for it while lights are red.” “I hate this bloody crossing, made me late so many times I can’t count! “I’m sure the community would be happy to detour to see a underpass or overpass built,” Lynny Fretlicker Cookster added.
But not everyone cares whether it gets fixed or not.
Peter Hayden said: “The crossing is fine, I use it daily and there’s nothing wrong with it. There can be a bit of traffic build up during peak- hour but it’s nothing out of the norm.
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