"Unacceptable.”

These are the words of a school principal and a rail union general secretary, who are learning the rail crossing – where a young girl died last week – was denied a safety upgrade in 2020 by Waka Kotahi.

The upgrade proposal included automated gates for pedestrians and cyclists for the rail crossing located near Golf Road and Hewletts Road.

Jorja-Ray Smith was 11-years-old when she was struck by a freight train at the crossing while biking home from Mount Maunganui Intermediate on Monday, July 31, at 2.55pm.

The crossing was also previously identified as one of a number of railway crossings "posing a safety risk" across the country, according to Waka Kotahi.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union general secretary Todd Valster says the crossing upgrade, if progressed, could have “absolutely” prevented a fatality, and the crossing is "outdated".

“Mount Maunganui is getting busier and busier, and the areas have a high frequency of trains. Just having the signage there is unacceptable.”

Asked if he was surprised by the safety upgrade being denied funding, he replied: “Unfortunately, no”.

“I come across this stuff around rail safety for the public and workers almost every day. Nothing surprises me anymore. It’s a real tragedy for everyone involved. But the reality is that crossing could be made much safer.”

Mount Maunganui Intermediate principal Melissa Nelson. Photo: Supplied.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate principal Melissa Nelson says their school is situated in a busy place.

"Having no barrier for pedestrians across a train track which is located closely to a school is unacceptable."

Melissa says her message to Waka Kotahi is the school would "appreciate some rigour" and "priority" on ensuring another tragedy like this "doesn't occur".

Waka Kotahi regional manager for maintenance and operations Rob Campbell says the crossing was "one of about 65 safety improvement projects" which was unsuccessful in securing construction funding in the 21/24 National Land Transport Funding Programme.

The proposal cost between $1 million to $2 million.

The safety upgrade cost between $1 million and $2 million, according to Waka Kotahi. Photo: Dom Thomas/RNZ.

Asked why the project wasn't funded, Rob says there are "many parts" of the network that need improving.

"Waka Kotahi prioritises improvements to address as much as we can as fast as we can, within available resources and the funding constraints that we have. Funding goes to the projects which will mitigate the highest risk.

"We await the outcome of a police investigation and this will help inform what measures will be most effective in improving safety at this site. Waka Kotahi is having discussions with Kiwirail and Tauranga City Council about the potential for level crossing improvements at a range of sites including Hewletts Rd."

On whether a life could have been saved if the proposal was funded, Rob says Waka Kotahi "can never know how many lives may have been saved" by completing projects that are funded.

"We just wish we could prevent all deaths and serious injuries, because every loss of life is unacceptable.

"Waka Kotahi is committed to continuing to implement the New Zealand Road to Zero strategy that moving towards the target to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads, cycleways and footpaths by 40 percent by 2030."

When approached by SunLive, Tauranga City Council said they are "unable" to comment on Waka Kotahi's scrapped upgrade proposal.

Transport Minister David Parker's office also redirected questions to Waka Kotahi, where the "funding decisions" are made.