The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has taken a stand on the urgent need for safety upgrades at three level crossings in the Mildura urban area, raising the issue directly with Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, through a Question on Notice.
Ms Benham has called on the Minister to clarify whether upgrades to the crossings at Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Streets will be prioritised under the Level Crossing Upgrade Program, stressing that immediate action is required to prevent potential incidents.
“These crossings are heavily trafficked by both pedestrians and motorists, yet they remain without fundamental safety measures such as lights, bells, or boom gates,” Ms Benham said. “The risk is real, and we cannot afford to wait any longer.”
Currently, three freight trains pass through these crossings in each direction every week, adding to the dangers posed by their outdated and inadequate warning systems. Despite the clear need for intervention, Mildura was overlooked in the recent Safer Country Crossings Program, leaving the community to hope that these crucial safety upgrades will be considered in the upcoming Level Crossing Upgrade Program.
Ms Benham condemned the ongoing neglect of regional Victoria by the Labor government, saying that communities like Mildura continue to be sidelined when it comes to infrastructure and road safety funding.
“Once again, Labor has turned its back on regional Victorians. Safe level crossings are a fundamental necessity, particularly in a busy urban area, yet we are continually overlooked,” Ms Benham said.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage roads, and as a result, regional Victorians are paying the price. How many more times must we be pushed to the back of the queue before our safety is taken seriously?”
The people of Mildura deserve better than to be left waiting for funding while lives remain at risk. Ms. Benham vowed to continue pressing the government until the necessary upgrades are delivered.
