Almost 300 days since they were closed, acting Premier James Merlino could provide no updates on when Lydiard Street will reopen to traffic, and said the state government is waiting for a report from the transport safety regulator before committing a decision.
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Speaking in Delacombe on Wednesday, Mr Merlino said the word "complex" or "complexity" five times.
"The complexity is real, I'm not just saying it as a way to get through a press conference - you've got a combination of manual operation, remote operation through V/Line, heritage issues, safety issues," he said.
"I don't have any other announcements to make today, but I do want to acknowledge the importance of this issue, the frustration of road users and commuters, but this is a complex issue and we want to make sure that the solution puts safety of everyone in Ballarat as number one.
"We need to wait for the (Australian Transport Safety Bureau) report to come out, and conclude that work and provide advice."
The gates were destroyed in May 2020 after a V/Line train's brakes failed, according to an ATSB interim report.
The City of Ballarat has demanded the heritage gates are restored, and a community protest was held last week calling for the intersection to reopen.
The state government has consistently said all options remain on the table and both temporary and permanent solutions are being examined.
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Mr Merlino also said the 1000 free car parks promised in the 2018 state election campaign are still being "worked through" with the City of Ballarat, but no locations had been identified yet.
"The state's working very closely with the City of Ballarat, we'll have more to say in terms of locations, but that's a critical piece of work," he said.
"From the announcement to the start of construction, it's 70 to 80 weeks before you actually break ground and start construction when you've got significant capital projects."
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