Trades Hall calls to fix historic rail gates

BALLARAT Regional Trades & Labour Council has joined the chorus calling on authorities to restore the rail gates on Lydiard Street North.

The gates on the south-side of the level crossing were destroyed in late-May when a night time V/Line train failed to stop at Ballarat Station impacting the barriers.

Since then the level crossing has been closed to traffic, with detours around the site in place.

BRTLC secretary Brett Edgington said all parties involved should work together to get the crossing reopened and the gates restored.

“Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council calls on V/Line, VicTrack and the City of Ballarat to move to immediately reinstate the heritage gates on the Lydiard Street crossing,” he said.

“The current closure is severely impacting on our emergency services, transport drivers and traders in the area.”

A report into the crash has been underway since the incident, but as yet there’s been no formal notification into the cause of the incident, if the gates will be returned or boom gates will be used at the site.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is handling the enquiry and the current status of the report listed on the agency’s website says, “Pending.”

Mr Edgington expressed concern over the length of time the process was taking.

“The delay is unconscionable and the recent suggestions that V/Line is choosing the path of least financial resistance in simply installing modern booms in the heritage rail precinct is alarming,” he said.

“It would be similarly unconscionable if boom gates are installed in the dead of night without consultation or notice.

“Heritage Victoria needs to be very clear about the heritage overlay site VHR H0902 and not equivocate on any option but to reinstate the heritage gates to their previous condition and specifications.”