Why the government shelved the level crossing project

NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Mr Duncan Gay, announced in October 2016 that the NSW Government would not be putting any more money into the Rawson Rd Level Crossing Replacement Project.

The NSW Government had originally promised $30 million towards to replacement of the crossing in 2011 but, over the subsequent six years, the cost was revised upwards several times.

"At the opening of the new pedestrian underpass, I committed an extra $7 million towards the Council's proposed upgrade of the level crossing," Mr Gay said in October.

"This increased the overall commitment of the NSW Government at this location to $52 million because a total of $45 million had been committed towards a pedestrian and road solution at the level crossing," he said.

"Unsurprisingly, the cost estimate to achieve a solution at the level crossing increased from $52 million ... to be between $80 million and $115 million.

"Following the cost estimate increase, I wrote to the Council and advised that no further funding would be available for the proposal, which the Council admitted it could not possibly afford itself.

"Taxpayers should not be forced to foot an even larger bill," he said at the time.

Mr Gay's office has not responded to the Peninsula News' request for information about whether the level crossing fatality would influence the Minister's decision about future funding for the project.

Hansard, 20 Oct 2016

Duncan Gay, NSW Minister for Roads