The Queensland Government is well aware of the importance of level crossings to the safety of road and rail users in far north Queensland and has a strong and ongoing commitment to enhancing their safety. This commitment is demonstrated through the development of the Queensland Level Crossing Safety Strategy, the current record level of investment in infrastructure upgrades and other safety measures.

The Queensland Level Crossing Safety Committee has developed the Queensland Level Crossing Safety Strategy currently in draft format under review by Government and all stakeholders. The strategy is due to be released towards the middle of the year and will encompass a range of key areas to improve safety at level crossings, including education, enforcement and research. An accompanying action plan is also being developed which targets these key areas and identifies specific actions and priorities including:
? Increasing the capability to enforce laws relating to level crossing safety
? Promoting level crossing safety through public education
? Improving level crossing infrastructure, including the Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program
? pursuing research and development in relation to radio based warning systems, motorists behaviour and lowcost level crossing protection systems
? implementing interface agreements between railway managers and road authorities to manage risks at level crossings.

There are over 1600 public level crossings on the Queensland rail network. All public open level crossings across Queensland have protection measures ranging from signs and road markings to active protection such as boom gates and flashing lights.

As part of the Transport Service "Contract (Rail Infrastructure) (TSC(RI)), the 'Open Level Crossing Protection Strategy' has a current budget of $17.09m (Outturn $s), which is predominately for safety assessments and improvements at all public open level crossings on the 'supported' rail network in Queensland. The TSC(RI) current
contract term is between 2007 and 2013.

In addition, $13.8m was spent under the Open Level Crossing Protection Strategy' during the previous TSC(RI) (199-2006). Under the 'Open Level Crossing Protection Strategy' all eight public level crossings in the electorate of Barron River, along the Tablelands Line between Cairns and Mareeba have been safety assessed, using the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM). All improvement works recommended as a result of the assessment have either been completed or are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009-10.

In the electorate of Barron River there are currently four public level crossings with active protection, such as flashing lights, while the remaining four are protected with passive measures such as signs and road markings.
Further this strategy provides $350 000 in funding as a contribution to a national level crossing safety campaign which commenced on 8 February 2009.

This campaign ran until 30 June 2009, with a campaign budget of $1m. The campaign included television, press, radio and outdoor advertising. The campaign was developed through a national level crossing safety group which included representation from all states.

As part of the Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan, the Australian Government is also funding the 'Boom Gates for Rail Crossing Program' which is being delivered by QR Network Pty Ltd on behalf of the State Government. Within this program a total of 66 high priority level crossings across Queensland will be upgraded with a total funding allocation from the Australian Government of $42.74m. The program focuses on the
delivery of boom gates, however, the upgrades may also include other forms of active and passive protections.

For the electorate of Barron River, the program currently includes upgrading, the two public open level crossings (2 of the 66) at Lower Freshwater Road and Shaws Road.

Both of these crossings are to be upgraded with the installation of boom gates and flashing lights. The upgrade works are scheduled for completion next month.

While not specifically in the Barron River electorate, it may interest you that 20 other level crossing upgrades in the Far North region (from Tully to Mareeba) are included in the Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program that will benefit Queenslanders. Eight of these upgrades have already been commissioned namely:
? Maher Road, Gordonvale
? Warrubullen Road, Warrubullen
? Warrubullen Road, Silkwood
? Ellis Road, Bellenden Ker
? Coombs Street, Cairns
? Minnie Street, Cairns
? Hesp-Bennett Road, Aloomba
? Warner Road, Edmonton.
The remaining 12 upgrades, which are scheduled to be commissioned by July 2010, are:
? Dobbin Road, Warrubullen
? Aumuller Road, Cairns
? Butler Street, Tully
? Thomson Road, Edmonton
? Hill Road, Edmonton
? Anderson Road, Woree
? Chettle Road, Arriga
? Muldoon Road (aka Dean St), Tully
? Mamu Road, Garradunga
? Palmerston Drive, Innisfail
? Mulligan Highway, Mareeba
? South Johnstone Road, Boogan.