Signatures needed to improve safety at all level crossings

Madeline Bott’s e-Petition to make warning lights mandatory at all level crossings is fast tracking on daily, but still considered a long way to achieve 20,000 by July 5.

The 20,000 amount is needed for this debate to be presented at state parliament.

Since The Times last covered this story in mid-April, Ms Bott was only up to 2,000 signatures.

However, as of this week the petition has accumulated to more than 11,000 signatories.

“This is our opportunity to have our stories heard by the people who can make change happen,” she said.

“This is our opportunity to make sure that our lost loved ones are not just another statistic. Without the 20,000 signatures, our opportunity will be lost.”

In February this year, 26-year-old registered nurse Maddie lost the love of her life and fiancé Ethan Hunter to a work accident on Eurabba Lane in Bribaree with his colleague Mark Fenton.

The pair were in a B-double road train carting gypsum from one side of a farm to another, when their truck collided with a freight train at a passive level crossing, which only had a “Stop and look for train” sign.

“Losing Ethan has turned my life upside down,” Ms Bott added.

“We were supposed to be planning our wedding, putting the crop in together on the farm and enjoying the beautiful life we had built with each other.

“Campaigning for Ethan and for change gets me out of bed everyday.”

Since the unfortunate incident earlier this year, Maddie has started her own Facebook page “Eurabba Heroes” to petition for change.

She has also featured in a number of media outlets including The Land, ABC, 9 News and Prime 7, as well earning the help of various politicians to spread the word.

Former Today Show host Lisa Wilkinson also tweeted the e-Petition link to help increase the publicity.

“If every person reading this story commits to 25 signatures on our ePetition, we will easily reach our target,” Maddie said.

“Not getting 20,000 signatures is simply not an option. We are going to stay positive and we will not stop working until we reach our goal.

“While keeping busy is what I need right now, I do struggle at times and I could not continue with my campaign without the support of my family and friends.”

With the help of Local Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP and Weddin Shire Mayor Mark Liebich, Maddie has been able to meet with a number of Ministers to have her voice heard.

On May 11, Ethan’s parents and herself met with NSW State Minister for Regional Transport and Road Paul Toole MP as well as Director West of Transport for NSW Alistair Lunn at Parliament House in Sydney.

Maddie said Mr Toole MP and Mr Lunn both listened to their story and offered their condolences, although not a great deal resulted from that meeting.

She said Mr Toole MP however, promised to get back to her within eight weeks.

Mr Lunn was also said to had sign the petition and “will ensure TfNSW does all it can to reduce the road toll at level crossings”.

On May 26, Steph Cooke MP and Mayor Cr Liebich once again joined Ms Bott and met with Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack MP at Parliament House in Canberra.

“I was keen to meet with Mr McCormack MP for several reasons,” Ms Bott said.

“I wanted to personally tell my story to him, as not only our Federal representative, but also as the Minister responsible for the portfolio ultimately overseeing level crossing safety.”

At the meeting Maddie discussed the Australia Level Crossing Assessment Model and challenged that it needed to be reviewed and modified, to better protect drivers of heavy vehicles, as well as users of country roads.

The ALCAM model is aimed to identify potential risks at level crossings in Australia and New Zealand.

Maddie said Ms Cooke MP urged Mr McCormack MP that safety must be a paramount priority with the commencement and the fast-tracking of the expansion of the Inland rail project.

Meanwhile at the end of April, Maddie and Angela Hunter, mother of Ethan, attended an ARTC Inland rail meeting in Bribaree.

At the meeting Ms Bott appealed for four matters to be addressed.

These included retrieving details of committee members that discuss and prioritise level crossing upgrades, reports of when and how level crossing are assessed, documentation regarding ARTC’s national rail standards which they use to classify crossings as safe, and documentation regarding traffic count determining the use of the level crossing.

Besides making warning lights mandatory at all level crossings, Maddie also wants a decrease in speed limits on highways as level crossings are approached, as well as making trains more visible with reflective material and better lighting.

You can do your part by signing the e-Petition here: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/Pages/ePetition-details.aspx?q=QQUGJ0/mWLyBeBBwd9XfOw==

Christopher Tan