Every morning in Narangba starts the same way for Haley Riches: packing school bags, loading the car, and hoping she won’t hit the rail crossing at the wrong time. But more often than not, she does. Like many locals, she finds herself stuck behind the boom gates, watching train after train pass, while the clock ticks and kids grow restless in the back seat. It’s not unusual for the wait to stretch past 10 minutes. Some days, it happens four times.
“It’s not uncommon to sit waiting for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, just to cross the train line. Multiply that by four trips a day, and it adds up to hours every week lost in our cars,” the mum said.
For Haley—and for hundreds of other families, workers and commuters in this growing Moreton Bay suburb—the crossing at Main Street and Mumford Road, and the nearby one at Burpengary Road and Mackie Road, has become more than just a delay. It’s a daily frustration, and some say, a looming safety hazard.
From Frustration to Action
It was after yet another long wait and another close call at the intersection that Haley decided to do something. In early 2025, she launched a petition asking officials to take action. The request was simple: find a safer, more efficient way for traffic to cross the railway line—whether through an overpass, underpass, or upgraded crossing system.
The response from the community was swift. Signatures started to pour in, and stories from other residents echoed her concerns. Parents juggling school drop-offs, workers trying to get to jobs on time, and visitors who dreaded the delays all backed the cause.
“I’m not an engineer,” Haley said. “But I know this isn’t working—and it hasn’t been for years.”
A Growing Town, a Growing Problem
New housing estates in Narangba Heights and Kinma Valley are set to add more than 3,000 homes to the area. That’s thousands of new cars, more school traffic, and more pressure on the same old crossings. Moreton Bay has already secured $10.1 million in funding to upgrade the Young Road and Oakey Flat Road intersection, just west of the rail line. That work is due to start later in 2025.
But Haley said the real pressure point remains the crossings—and the people who are stuck at them every single day. In the past, plans for an overpass were reportedly dropped after locals pushed back, but community attitudes may now be shifting.
“The roads are way busier than they were back then,” said one resident on social media. “It’s not just a delay anymore. It’s a risk.”
Taking the Fight to Officials
Her petition quickly gathered traction, leading to a face-to-face meeting with MP Shane King. For nearly two hours, they discussed the rail line, the nearby roads, and how the town’s rapid growth was putting more pressure on old infrastructure.
King said he would take the petition to Parliament and explore state funding options. He also committed to following up on reports that heavy quarry trucks were using Narangba Road illegally, crossing the train lines and adding to congestion. Cr Mark Booth voiced his support too, and Haley is now preparing for meetings with local council representatives, including Acting Cr Tony Latter, to keep the issue moving.
Data, Evidence and Determination
Haley is now collecting dashcam footage and police reports to show just how serious the problem has become. In one rainy week this July, there were already two crashes near the crossing. She’s also had to pay for extra childcare so she can attend meetings—just one of many small sacrifices she’s making to keep the issue on the agenda.
While not everyone agrees on what the fix should be, there is broad support for the idea that something needs to happen soon. Some locals have suggested extending nearby roads or widening key routes. Others point out that with train frequency set to increase thanks to the Cross River Rail project, the delays will only worsen if nothing is done.
Haley said she understands any major upgrade will take years, but believes that’s even more reason to start now.
The Road Ahead
With another round of meetings coming up in early August, Haley hopes to reach at least 3,000 signatures—and maybe more. She said the goal isn’t to push blame or demand the impossible. It’s simply to make sure her town doesn’t get left behind.
“Narangba is growing, and it deserves better,” she said. “I just want to make it safer, and easier, for all of us to get where we need to go.”
Published 25-July-2025
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