Nairne Rail Crossings

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel) (15:07): As members will know, the Australian Rail Track Corporation line intersects a number of roads within the township of Nairne. This is the primary rail freight route between Adelaide and Melbourne. Those streets include Woodside Road, Old Princes Highway beside Burns Street (which I will return to), Jeffrey Street and Bartley Street. Warning lights have been installed at each of these crossings, but there is no level crossing with gates or any grade separation. Nairne is growing at a significant rate. It is a community, I feel, that needs much more additional investment.

It is possible for vehicles to drive into the path of oncoming trains, including large interstate freight trains which frequently use the line, as I foreshadowed. Several of these level crossings have been the site of accidents or near misses. Recently, there was a near miss where a bus driver ran a red light at the Old Princes Highway level crossing at Nairne. It has been the subject of a good deal of media interest, and that interest is appropriate.

I have indicated that over the years a number of collisions or near misses have occurred, not just at that level crossing. Over a year ago, a car became stuck attempting to U-turn at the Jeffrey Street crossing. Fortunately, the driver was not injured. I understand that the driver jumped from the vehicle seconds before a train collided with it.

I indicated earlier in my remarks that Nairne and surrounds are rapidly growing. There has been a good deal of focus on Mount Barker in my community, but of course there is growth right throughout the Adelaide Hills: Nairne, Littlehampton, Woodside to Lobethal, through of course Mount Barker and further south towards Strathalbyn. It must be the case that there is an equal focus on safety improvements, including, where appropriate, barriers at level crossings, together with improving heavy infrastructure and, where necessary given the climate of the Hills, resurfacing a number of our roads.

I think it is right to emphasise in this place and right to emphasise to the minister that an additional safety investment is appropriate at each of these level crossings but particularly at Old Princes Highway. I call on the state government to investigate whether grade separations could be constructed in Nairne, particularly at Old Princes Highway. If that is not possible, crossing gates are becoming increasingly necessary as the township continues to grow.