Student Campaign Rewarded

Students from STAG at the dangerous crossing, now to be upgraded.

The State Government has responded to a campaign by a group of Pakenham Campus students with a $2 million pledge to upgrade a dangerous level crossing.

Terry Mulder, now the new Minister for Transport, along with Liberal Member for Narracan, Gary Blackwood, announced on Monday, 15th November, that the Coalition – if elected – would commit the funds to install boom gates and traffic lights at the dangerous Lardner’s Track Level Crossing in Warragul.

The announcement was a culmination of months of work by students from the Safety Transport Awareness Group (STAG) – part of the Future Problem Solving Competition.

Earlier this year, the students were invited to State Parliament to meeting with Mr Mulder and Mr Narracan to discuss the crossing and how to solve its safety issues.

Students from STAG prepared a formal proposal which was presented to Parliament on 26th May.

The group’s Future Problem Solving Co-ordinator, Jodie Doble, said the funding commitment of $2 million would help save lives. It was also a fantastic result of the huge efforts students put into their Future Problem Solving project, she said.

“Presenting to Parliament was one thing but to have an outcome like this really shows what a loud voice students have when they research and work together as a team,” Ms Doble said.

Mr Blackwood said the safety of cars, trucks and buses that used the crossing was compromised every day.

“Two million dollars will help provide boom gates to help road users safely navigate the crossing and also provide synchronised traffic signals on Drouin-Warragul Road, to coordinate train and vehicle movements safely through the intersection,” he said.

Disclaimer:
All information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to change without prior notice.
Beaconhills College will not be legally responsible for any comments posted on this website by third parties.