The timeline and history of broken promises to fix the now deadly Lindum level crossing
This notorious Brisbane railway crossing has residents living in fear following another death. But, as our comprehensive interactive timeline shows, there have been 20 years of mishaps.
Southeast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southeast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two horrific deaths in two years – everyone from motorists to residents and politicians have been shocked as disaster has struck yet again at Brisbane’s notorious Lindum Railway Crossing.
But should they be surprised?
History would say no.
For almost 20 years baysiders have desperately called for something to be done to address the Lindum level crossing but two decades full of promises and political bickering have turned the intersection into a death trap.
The promises started with former Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Campbell Newman declaring he would build an overpass at Lindum in 2004, and again in 2008 before calling on the Labor State Government to contribute funding, which they refuse to.
Mr Newman said his promised overpass was never delivered because the State Government never put up any money towards the project, even though he later served as the premier from 2012 to 2015.
“I did however also make promises to fix Telegraph Rd and Geebung rail crossings on the northside,” he said.
“These projects were done because we managed to get State Government to make a contribution.
“Funding of rail crossings are a joint responsibility and I am afraid that successive State administrations have ducked that.”
From there, every politician from longtime Wynnum Manly Councillor (ALP) Peter Cumming, former Councillor for Doboy Ryan Murphy, Ross Vasta, Joan Pease, Rod Harding, Neil Symes and Jo Culshaw have publicly declared the Lindum intersection fix a priority.
But still those statements remained empty promises to commuters and residents, who had campaigned for a solution believing the crossing was a tragedy waiting to happen.
Some minor actions were taken in 2017 and 2018 however with Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta starting a petition, which gained more than 5000 signatures.
State Member for Lytton Joan Pease delivered a $5 million upgrade to add 70 more car park spaces to ease congestion.
However, the moves weren’t enough to stop what everyone had feared for years as an elderly woman died at the crossing after being hit by a train in 2019.
It appeared as though the tragedy finally made politicians take the issue seriously after sparking immediate action from the Federal Government and the Brisbane City Council, who dedicated a combined $125 million towards a solution.
The State Government and Joan Pease then followed with $40 million committed towards upgrades for the Lindum Station Precinct.
But here we are, days after another horror crash where a 32-year-old woman died after her car was hit by a train at the crossing, and with more than $160 million contributed towards a solution and still there are no solid plans in place for a fix.
The delays continue to frustrate local residents, motorists and others such as rector of the nearby Iona College, Fr Michael Twigg, who worries for hundreds of students who use the crossing each day.
“The issues surrounding Lindum Station and crossing continue to be the highest safety priority for the college and it is an issue that is spoken about at nearly every parents and friends meeting over many years,” he said.
“At times it feels like we are closer than we have ever been in finding a pathway through the issues and at other times it does feel frustratingly slow and seemingly a long way away.
“There has been so much tragedy, anxiety and frustrations at this crossing.
“My advice to everyone involved in solving these issues is that ‘sometimes people believe what you say but they always believe what you do’.
“It’s now time to do.”
Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said a solution for the crossing had been delayed for so long because of the different parties not working together.
“There has been a fair bit of passing the buck between the State Government and Brisbane City Council over the years,” he said.
“But I think we’ve all been hit hard by the tragedy last week and we’re all willing to work together.
“Joan (Pease) is focused on the Lindum Precinct upgrade, where she assures me work will start this year.
“While we wait on the report from the State Government on the best solution for the crossing, I’ve asked for the Federal Government’s $85 million to be redirected to council to install traffic lights and upgrade the roads leading up to Lindum.
“That has been agreed to. So hopefully we’re close to finally making this intersection safer for everyone. The sad part is these disasters could have been avoided years ago.”
State Transport Minister Mark Bailey told The Courier Mail earlier in the week he had asked his department to investigate options to “accelerate the upgrade at Lindum.”
Councillor for Doboy Lisa Atwood (LNP) said she, along with Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, would not stop pushing the State Government to get cracking on removing this open level crossing for good to ensure tragedies like this fatal incident do not occur again.
“Last week’s incident is deeply upsetting, not only because someone’s life has been lost, but because it is not the first fatality that has occurred at this level crossing,” she said.
Shirt hits the fan: CEO’s tenure starts with a literal ‘sh*t show’
A council’s new CEO has been forced to issue an apology a day into her new job after photos of her at a staff farewell party caused a ‘Sh*t Show’.
CEO exits island indigenous body as delays hit $16m cultural centre
The boss of North Stradbroke Island’s indigenous governing body has stepped down, as the corporation’s financial woes mount and its $16 million cultural centre remains stuck in limbo.