NSW Budget ignores level crossing safety, says Smith

The absence of funding for the Rawson Rd level crossing in the NSW State Budget is a "road safety concern", according to Member for Gosford Ms Kathy Smith

"There is no mention of the biggest safety concern on the Peninsula, the level crossing at Rawson Rd," Ms Smith said.

She said the Budget had only included "a contribution of funding for a pedestrian refuge at the intersection of Ocean Beach Rd and Lone Pine Ave, Umina, along with funding for road resurfacing, signage and delineation on Patonga Dr, Patonga".

"I welcome the funding to improve road safety but the biggest road safety concern for residents on the Peninsula is the unfinished and long-awaited Rawson Rd Level Crossing Replacement Project.

"It has received no additional funding in the latest Budget," she said.

"My office has been inundated with enquires regarding this project and residents have serious safety concerns," said Ms Smith.

Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, Mr David Harris, said the NSW opposition believed the future of the Rawson Rd level crossing replacement "must be seriously in doubt".

"I think the locals should be very upset," he said.

"This was a clear commitment in 2011.

"They built the first part, which was the pedestrian underpass that most people said they didn't want and the actual underpass, that most people said they did want, has not been built," he said.

"People have got a right to say they were misled in last two Budgets."

Media release, 22 Jun 2016

Kathy Smith, Member for Gosford

Interview, 23 Jun 2016

David Harris, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast

Reporter: Jackie Pearson