[Greens-Media] Hartland "Absolutely Thrilled" that Yarraville train crossing community group will be formed

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Friday 13 July 2007

HARTLAND "ABSOLUTELY THRILLED" THAT YARRAVILLE TRAIN CROSSING COMMUNITY 
GROUP WILL BE FORMED

A group of Yarraville residents is forming a campaign group for a safe 
train crossing at Anderson Street, Yarraville.  At a meeting last night, 
residents reached consensus that they would run an active campaign aimed 
at safety upgrades to both the pedestrian and road crossings. 

Greens MLC Colleen Hartland, who facilitated the meeting, encouraged the 
group to be independent of any political party, including the Greens.  "I 
think this is very important.  Rail safety should not be an 'us versus 
them' issue.  I will help the group, but I don't want to control them.  We 
can all work together," said Ms Hartland.

At the meeting, the residents spoke about their experience of the crossing 
and the closure of the pedestrian underpass in 1997. 

"I've been actively campaigning for better train services and a safe 
pedestrian crossing for years, since I was a local Councillor.  I've taken 
this campaign to Parliament with me." said Colleen Hartland

"I see people cross the tracks illegally, right in front of trains, 
especially in the morning.  The boom gates stay down for long periods, and 
the alternative is to miss their trains. I don't condone their actions, 
but I don't think we can stand by and wait for a sleepy school-kid to be 
struck by a train.  We need to create a safe crossing."

"The group has asked me to book a meeting room at the Yarraville Senior 
Citizens Centre in Fehon Street for Thursday 9 August at 7.30pm.  They've 
asked me to print fliers for them to distribute.  It's likely that the 
group will be formally created at that meeting."

"They've also asked me to engage a consultant for a preliminary assessment 
of the site for a new pedestrian crossing that complies with disability 
access." 

"I'm absolutely thrilled with how the meeting went last night.  They are 
such a calm, capable group of residents.  They know what they want - a 
safe crossing - but they are open to ideas on how to get there."


For further information:
Colleen Hartland: 9651 8788

************************************
Liz Ingham
Office of Colleen Hartland MLC
9651 8413 / 0400 043 881
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