With stage one safety upgrades completed to the Lindum level crossing, work has begun on Stage two upgrades to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and commuters.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said since securing the $85 million Federal Funding for this project in 2019, he had been working with the state and local council to move forward with vital safety improvements.

“I’ve been fighting for this upgrade since 2017 when over 7000 locals in Bonner signed my petition to fix Lindum crossing,” Mr Vasta said.

“Sadly, we have lost too many lives at this dangerous level crossing, and while stage one safety improvements are completed thanks to $1 million from our $85 million, I am very pleased work on stage two is now underway.”

Mr Vasta said the immediate safety upgrade to Lindum crossing included the installation of new and extended median islands, as well as new on-road line markings and resurfacing.

“The second stage utilises $10 million of our government’s $85 million commitment and involves realigning and signalising the intersection at the level crossing,” Mr Vasta said.

“I will continue to work with all levels of government and deliver on my commitment to the people of Bonner to fix Lindum crossing and provide an upgrade that safely caters for commuters, school children, business, bike riders and pedestrians.”

More information on stage one and two Lindum safety upgrade works is available here.

In addition to the Federal Government’s commitment, Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government have each committed $5 million to stage two of the project.

A water safety program to train teachers and students to swim to survive has been awarded a $30,000 grant.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Mackenzie-based Craig Tobin Aquatics Pty Ltd was awarded the grant for its Collaborative Water Safety – Swim to Survive Program.

“This grant was awarded through the Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF) and trains teachers and students in Seoul, Busan and within Korea how to swim to survive,” Mr Vasta said.

“This program is run through Lifesaving Korea and was one of 33 recipients of the AKF’s grants program to promote projects in Australia and Korea.”

Mr Vasta said the grant would help the organisation expand on its program which was first launched in 2016 into Korea’s education system.

“This grant will help Craig Tobin Aquatics teach 200 teachers and more than 2000 primary school students in Korea how to swim,” Mr Vasta said.

The Australian Government is committed to promoting people-to-people and institutional linkages between Australia and Korea.

The AKF supports the development of sustainable partnerships between Australian and Korean institutions, professional bodies, non‑governmental organisations and private sector organisations in arts and culture, business, trade, education, and science and technology.

The AKF is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. For more information about the AKF, successful grant recipients and the grants program, visit www.dfat.gov.au/AKF.