The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is calling on the State Government and Central Coast Council to collaborate on alternative solutions to the long running debate over the Rawson Rd rail crossing at Woy Woy.
“Decisions over the replacement of the existing rail crossing have been dragging on for too long,” Chamber President Matthew Wales said.
“Clearly both the Government and the Council have put the project in the too hard basket and the community gets stuck with an ever-increasing safety problem that is only going to get worse.”
Wales said it was “blatantly clear” that a rail overpass at the base of Bulls Hill would be far too expensive and would not meet cost/benefit thresholds with a projected cost of $120M.
“In the meantime, the existing intersection at the Rawson Rd rail crossing is becoming more congested and an increasing safety risk,” he said.
The Chamber is calling on the Government to consider installing traffic lights on the Railway St and Rawson Rd legs of the intersection with traffic lights on the western side of the rail crossing.
“The existing rail crossing warning lights and boom gates should be retained as part of major synchronised upgrade of the intersection,” Wales said.
“These improvements would improve traffic flow and safety both during normal traffic conditions and when the rail crossing is in operation.
“At the moment, navigating the intersection even when the rail crossing is not operating is becoming increasingly dangerous and is compounded during peak periods.
“We have to start putting in place a more feasible financial solution to the rail crossing replacement without the $120M price tag.”
However, Council has put the ball firmly back in the State Government’s court.
A spokesperson said Council strongly supported and acknowledged the need to carry out improvements at the crossing intersection and had previously developed the Rawson Road Level Crossing Replacement project.
“The project received considerable grant funding from the State Government with a number of associated projects, such as the pedestrian underpass at Rawson Rd, constructed,” the spokesperson said.
“However, due to impacts on the state rail network, a re-design of major components of the project was required, which resulted in a funding shortfall and the project did not proceed to completion.”
The spokesperson said the project was a “significant infrastructure upgrade” which was beyond Council’s financial resources and therefore would need funding from the State or Federal Government.
“Council has previously received advice from the (then) Minister that the NSW Government is unable to commit any additional funding in order to carry out this project,” the spokesperson said.
“However, Council continues to advocate on behalf of the community for the NSW and/or Australian Government to provide funding and deliver safety improvements at this intersection.”
The spokesperson said Council was supportive of additional stand-alone improvements at the (crossing) and had advised the State Government that while it did not have funding available to contribute to safety improvements, it urged that any proposed improvements should reflect best practice and include safety measures such as traffic signals, taking into consideration motorists’ safety.
“Council has undertaken safety works on the road environment with minor improvements to the intersection which included the placement of Stop signs on Railway St on both approaches at the intersection with Rawson Rd and the trimming of adjacent vegetation to improve sight lines,” the spokesperson said.
Terry Collins