COOKE WELCOMES CARAGABAL SAFETY UPGRADE, SEEKS ANSWERS ON BRIBBAREE CROSSING
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has welcomed the completion of the upgraded rail crossing in Caragabal but says there is still work to be done to make crossings safer across the electorate.
Boom gates, flashing lights and bells have been installed at the crossing along the Mid-Western Highway at Caragabal, reducing the risk of collisions and near misses.
The upgrade was jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund, the NSW Government’s Level Crossing Improvement Program and the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
Located along the busy highway connecting West Wyalong and Grenfell, and close to Caragabal Public School, Ms Cooke said the upgrade is a positive step forward for safety in the small community.
“This crossing services local residents, freight operators, farmers, school families and thousands of motorists travelling the Mid-Western Highway each year, so improving safety here is an excellent outcome,” Ms Cooke said.
“The installation of boom gates, flashing lights and bells will provide drivers with clearer warnings and significantly reduce the risk of serious accidents at this crossing.”
This is the most recent activation of a problem crossing in the electorate, following the completion of upgrades at the Goldfields Way crossing at Old Junee.
However, Transport for NSW has yet to update the Bribbaree community on the crossing at Mary Gilmore Way, despite claiming in March that design work for an active crossing would be completed by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.
Ms Cooke said that while she respects there are a number of projects across the state that must be completed, the community deserves greater certainty about when construction of this important upgrade will begin.
“As we've seen with the Caragabal and Old Junee crossings, once work gets underway these projects can be completed relatively quickly,” Ms Cooke said.
“While I understand there are a little more than a dozen level crossing upgrades scheduled ahead of Bribbaree, these are not majorly technical undertakings and the community should have been provided a clear indication of when this project will be delivered by now.”
Ms Cooke has since contacted the Minister for Regional Transport seeking an urgent update on the crossing project.
“I have put questions to the Minister seeking answers, and I'm calling on her to provide a timeline and not delay the upgrade of this dangerous passive crossing any longer,” Ms Cooke said.
