Not happy: (From left) landholders Des Quirk, Robert Smith, Jack Quirk (with Barney) and Doug Brown at the Quirks Rd railway crossing — one of the crossings they are concerned about.
Photo by
geoff Adams
An upgraded railway line is on its way to Shepparton, but farmers along the line warn there is a potential safety threat that is being ignored.
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The farmers, based between Arcadia and Murchison East, feel they have been frozen out of consultations and their concerns are not being taken seriously.
They regularly take sheep across the level crossings and are warning that an increase in rail services at higher speeds will add to the dangers to their animals and rail passengers.
They have been appealing for a solution, but cannot get attention from rail authorities.
The farmers say their phone calls are not being returned and commitments are being broken.
More trains, more often: A Shepparton-bound passenger train crosses Browns Rd level crossing at Moorilim.
Photo by
geoff Adams
Arcadia lamb producer Des Quirk is worried that with multi-million-dollar work already started on the line upgrade, they may be overlooked.
The farmers had conversations with representatives of the rail construction body last year, but no-one has come back to them.
The federal and Victorian governments have funded $400 million for Stage 3 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade, which will allow trains to travel up to 130km/h and enable nine return services to and from Melbourne every weekday.
The Victorian Rail Authority, which is responsible for the works, has repeatedly promised to engage with the landholders, but has failed to follow through.
In the latest communication, the farmers were promised a solution has been found — but after a month has passed they have not been told what it is.
“If they have found a solution, they are not telling us what it is; we haven’t been consulted,” Des Quirk said.
Farmers Des Quirk, Phil Smith, Peter Thomson, Doug Brown and Jack Quirk have all signed letters to Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan.
Safety fears: Lamb producer Robert Smith at the Browns Rd railway crossing near his property. He is worried the upgraded line will not have sufficient safeguards for stock crossing.
Photo by
geoff Adams
The landholders are suggesting underpasses of the rail line would provide a first-class solution, but failing that they propose some works at the crossings, including fencing to help direct stock, similar to what has historically been at older Victorian crossings.
This solution could be combined with stock grids between the rail lines to prevent stock running down the tracks, as well as a permit system requiring primary producers to contact rail operators before and after a stock movement is made.
The farmers believe the cost would be modest in a $750 million upgrade.
They are calling for an examination of the final engineering design, a site meeting to discuss their concerns and an action plan including timelines.
Regional Rail Revival director Mark Havryluk said they were continuing to engage with farmers who moved livestock across public level crossings between Murchison East and Arcadia, as works progressed on the Shepparton Line Upgrade.
“We are currently finalising the design of a solution to address their concerns and look forward to sharing it with the community,” Mr Havryluk said.
Rail Projects Victoria is close to finalising a fencing-based solution.
Stage 2 of the project, which is under way, includes 59 level crossing upgrades between Donnybrook and Shepparton.
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