Feasibility study for Coopers Plains railway crossing in Brisbane
The Palaszczuk Government has invested $800,000 to determine if an overpass is the best solution for one of the most notorious railway crossings in Brisbane’s south.
Southeast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southeast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Palaszczuk Government has invested $800,000 to determine if an overpass is the best solution for one of the most notorious railway crossings in Brisbane’s south.
For decades the Boundary Rd level crossing at Coopers Plains has been a source of frustration for motorists, residents and businesses in the area.
While some have noted the feasibility study, which will investigate options to improve safety and reduce congestion, is a waste of taxpayers’ money, others welcome the community consultation that the Department of Transport and Mains Roads has begun.
During the morning and evening peak of a normal week, the level crossing is passed by 498 trains, of which 206 are express, according to DTMR.
During peak periods, a traffic demand of up to 1000 vehicles per hour travel over the crossing, with a significant number of these being heavy vehicles.
The level crossing is closed for more than one third of the morning and evening peak periods, with closures of up to seven minutes at a time.
The findings of the study are expected to be delivered by late 2019.
However, even if the findings prove an overpass is the best option the State Government only plans to come to the table with 50 per cent funding, while Brisbane City Council is only looking to fork out 15 per cent.
The overpass is estimated to cost in excess of $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.
Earlier this year, the State’s peak motoring body told the Southern Star the Coopers Plains level crossing had one of the highest number of boom gate strikes in the past decade.
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.
What locals say
Business owner and southsider Annamarie Newton said: “Coopers Plains crossing has never been a quick fix, all sides should agree that the community must be consulted, alternatives such as overpasses or other ideas must be considered.
“The reality and practicality must be part of the solution and to do this a professional and proper assessment must be undertaken.
“The community deserves a workable long-term solution which will try and keep pace with the ever-increasing population on the southside.”
Brisbane resident Valda de Vries said: “This crossing was there more than 50 years ago. This I know because we got married that year, 1968. Mortimer Road is still the same after 60 years. What is wrong? Not keeping up.
“Build bigger and bigger suburbs but no upgrade to infrastructure — it is wrong. You can’t change things and not upgrade what happens around the new housing.
William Murfin added: “They should just block the intersection and divert traffic to Kessels Road as they won’t do anything to upgrade this level crossing.”
Former LNP Member for Algester and self-proclaimed “community advocate” Anthony Shorten said the feasibility study was “outrageous and a complete waste of taxpayers’ money”.
“(Member for Toohey) Peter Russo wants to charge the community for a study even he publicly stated wasn’t needed,” Mr Shorten told the Southern Star.
“A year on from the State Election and we are only now finding out how much Peter
Russo’s study is going to cost taxpayers.
“A study into whether an overpass should be built at Coopers Plains railway crossing, everybody who uses the crossing knows that an overpass is required and $800,000 would be better spent buying key properties which surely must form part of any future plan.
“Peter Russo is using $800,000 of taxpayers money as a down payment for his re-
election campaign in 2020, which is coincidently when the study is due for release
and when the next State election is due.”
“Residents want action, not more broken promises by the phantom Member for
Toohey”.
What the pollies say
Member for Toohey Peter Russo told the Southern Star said the timeline to fix the crossing hadn’t been determined.
“It is because it is a huge undertaking,” he said.
“There will be public consultation to come up with a solution to fix the Coopers Plains crossing.
Mr Russo said the community was concerned about the railway crossing “delays and danger”.
“It is the economic impacts it has on the businesses and the people trying to negotiate the crossing,” Mr Russo said.
“We are trying to minimise the impact on the people and businesses in the area.
“(The study is) very important and a good step in trying to come up with a solution that has a minimum impact on locals and businesses.”
Mr Russo said the Department of Transport and Main Roads had already started canvassing the area.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
“This is Step 1 — you can’t just go and start digging up the road.”
Brisbane City Councillor Steve Griffiths (Moorooka ward) told the Southern Star he had been advised the Boundary Rd (Coopers Plains) Level Crossing Planning Study had commenced.
“TMR has committed $800,000 to investigate options to reduce congestion and address safety concerns with the Boundary Road level crossing,” he said.
Over the coming months, TMR will work closely with directly affected property owners and stakeholders, including Brisbane City Council, which is the local road authority, throughout the study’s delivery.
TMR will keep the local community informed as the project progresses.
Further detail regarding the detailed business case stage at this level crossing will be confirmed once the planning study is completed. Future stages are dependent on the study outcomes and funding availability.
There will be community consultation opportunities for interested residents, businesses and road users.
Feedback received between December 14 and February 15, 2019 will inform the planning study.
Community drop-in sessions:
Session 1 will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 between 9.30am and 1.30pm at
St David’s Neighbourhood Centre, 68 Orange Grove Rd, Coopers Plains.
Session 2 will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2019 from 3.30-6.30pm at Coopers Plains Library, 107 Orange Grove Rd, Coopers Plains.
An online survey is available to complete until February 15.
Project background
Queues recorded during data collection in 2015 at the level crossing were as high as 66 cars in the morning peak and 55 cars in the evening peak during any 1 level crossing closure.
Traffic consists of about 80% private motor vehicles, 10% of small commercial vehicles and the rest are occasional trucks and buses.
This level crossing was named as one of Queensland’s Top 10 worst level crossings from train drivers’ perspectives in TrackSAFE’s 2013 survey, and is regularly discussed in media articles and election campaigns, with local residents, RACQ and elected representatives calling for it to be grade separated due to congestion and safety issues.
Deloitte identified this level crossing in 2012 as a high priority level crossing to be eliminated; this took into account traffic, safety and economics.
SEQ development war: State caught in councils legal crossfire
Queensland councils are racking up hefty legal bills in development disputes, with ratepayers footing the tab for an explosion of planning court cases.
Ex-MP Andrew Laming fined $5k for electoral breaches in failed mayoral bid
Failed Redlands mayoral candidate Andrew Laming claims he's being held to a 'unique standard' after copping a $5000 fine for electoral law breaches. SEE THE VIDEO