Community & Business
2 October, 2024
Seeing red over stop signs
THE face-off has been going for three years, but the issue of stop signs at the two Mareeba town rail crossings for a train that comes through twice a week, will be raised by Mareeba Shire Council once again.
At its recent meeting, Deputy Mayor Lenore Wyatt asked when, or if, the stop signs would go.
“We’re aware that the Savannahlander comes through Wednesday and Saturdays. I’m aware that the responsibility of the railway is Queensland Rail, but again, constituents are asking why we are still having to stop when we know it is a Wednesday and Saturday, and we have one train, and we have to always stop at both Rankin Street and Keeble Street,”
she said.
“I don’t know what we can do in this space, I know that the State Government has pushed back and said it’s between the railway and the council.”
In previous spats, QR has said it could not assume people knew the train travelled through on a Wednesday or a Saturday. It was a question of safety.
Cr Ross Cardillo said the problem affected all towns where the line passed through.
“It’s right across the shire, there are stop signs everywhere,” he said, citing an incident where a competitor in the annual Great Wheelbarrow Race actually stopped at a sign during the race.
“It’s a bit ridiculous.”
Cr Amy Braes asked whether give-way signs would suffice.
Council chief executive officer Peter Franks agreed the issue was “ludicrous” and there had been numerous approaches to QR.
“QR are emphatic, they have to be stop signs,” he said.
“They are saying that because of the infrequent train - it actually makes it more dangerous because people are so used to not seeing a train that they won’t pay attention.
“That’s their argument and it’s their corridor, that’s the problem.
“It’s their piece of real estate and they can make the decision, unfortunately.”
Apart from the trains, maintenance vehicles also traverse the rail line at different times.
Council discussed the merits of signalised or “flashing” crossings, however, Mr Franks said it had been raised three years ago, and, at the time, had been costed at about $2.4 million, with QR saying it would be a council expenditure.
This would not go down well with ratepayers.
“We’ve done everything we can,” Mr Franks said.
Mayor Angela Toppin encouraged those upset about the situation to write directly to Queensland Rail, and to their local member.
“We will also write another letter to QR,” she concluded.
