Sandra Hawkins is so determined to see a pedestrian crossing in Whitby she’s willing to stage a sit-in protest on the railway lines.
Ms Hawkins’ ire comes after the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale undertook a community engagement process about planned changes to footpaths and pedestrian accessibility around Whitby.
In her role as founder of the Whitby Estate Residents Association, Ms Hawkins wrote to the council in December to express her concerns after receiving a letter from the Shire detailing the potential options.
The letter includes a map illustrating a variety of “footpath options to better link between areas, and also to the new Keirnan Park Sporting Complex” and urges residents to ‘have their say’ by visiting the Shire website.
The options include the construction of a footpath on Robertson Rd, a footpath linking Keirnan St, Evelyn St and Richardson Rd, and a footpath linking Keirnan St and Galvin Rd.
Ms Hawkins, a former councillor at the Shire, responded to the letter expressing her concern that a pedestrian crossing over the railway lines at Keirnan St was a ‘must’, and explained to The Examiner that she regularly witnesses young children crossing the rail at Keirnan St, where no pedestrian rail crossing exists.
“It’s a narrow road going across and there is no access for pedestrians to walk on a pathway across, they have to walk into the road. It’s quite dangerous,” she said.
“I have seen quite a few near misses with children being missed by a matter of inches with cars coming around.”
But The Examiner understands that the Shire is not authorised to build a pedestrian crossing at Keirnan St, as the railway line is owned and operated by a private company, ARC Infrastructure.
“I had ARC infrastructure out two years ago and they said, ‘no, it’s too expensive’, they said it would cost a million dollars to put it in. I find that a bit excessive, but at the same time, what is a life worth?”
ARC Infrastructure told The Examiner they were unable to speculate on how much such a project would cost.
Ms Hawkins said she had spoken with a number of people about her concerns.
“I have spoken to a lot of people and councillors and they’re all in agreeance with it, but it’s just getting them to budge with ARC Infrastructure,” she said.
“If I can’t get anywhere, I’m going to stage a protest sit-in on the railway line.”
“I’ll probably get arrested but that’s alright, I just need to bring it to the attention of people, it’s an important matter.”
Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire President, Cr Michelle Rich, said the Shire has not approached ARC Infrastructure about the potential for a pedestrian rail crossing at Keirnan St.
“Keirnan Street will ultimately not connect across the rail corridor,” said the President.
“The Shire urges pedestrians and cyclists to use the designated pedestrian rail crossing points if they wish to cross the rail.”
“Designated pedestrian crossing points are located at the Richardson Street and Evelyn Street, and Watkins Road and Mundijong Road intersections with the rail corridor.”
“This does not include Keirnan Street.”
“Shire officers are currently collating the feedback that was received through the community consultation period in December,” she said.
“A report will be presented to the council in the coming months for the council to consider community feedback and options to improve pedestrian connectivity between Mundijong and Whitby.”
