Community campaigners “Lift Redfern: Make Redfern Station
Accessible Now” announce their month long Peoples Petition campaign culminates
on Wednesday 2nd May with the presentation to local state member
Kristina Keneally of over 10 000 signatures calling for immediate action by the
government to make Redfern Station accessible.
Media Conference / Photographic Opportunity
Where: Parliament House: Rear Gates
under the Knowledge Tree, Domain Lawn
When: 10am, Wednesday 2nd
May 2012
Speakers: Member for Heffron Kristina Keneally
Interview Opportunities: Other parliamentarians; mobility-challenged community members
Joel Pringle from the campaign said “despite Redfern being one of
the cityʼs busiest stations, with over 42,000 people using it every day, its
accessibility issues continue to be ignored. Last week the Minister for
Transport released a $100 million blitz list of urgent station upgrade works,
but Redfern was once again overlooked and ignored. Not even one lift to one
platform.
“With 12 platforms Redfern Station is second to Central for
inter-change possibilities and the sixth busiest station for entrances and
exits. People with disabilities, older people, parents with young children,
pregnant women, people with short-term mobility issues, and people with luggage
or shopping have great difficulty in accessing or cannot access the station at
all. Redfern Station needs to be on the accessibility upgrade list and at the
top, so that these vital works can commence.
“Public transport should be available to everyone. It is
unacceptable that a key station on our rail network is shut off to some members
of our community.”
“It’s great to have so many varied groups within our broader
community working together to achieve an outcome we all need. When the
government’s infrastructure report is released later this year, Redfern Station
must be at the top of the list,” said Pringle.
A parliamentary debate on access at Redfern Station is expected by
the end of August 2012.
Supporters of the ‘Lift Redfern Station’ campaign include the
University of Sydney; local community organisations: The Factory, South Sydney
Community Aid and The Settlement; South Sydney Business Chamber; Gadigal
Information Services; South Sydney Rabbitohs; full supporters list at:
http://liftredfernstation.wordpress.com/about-us/
For more information: http://liftredfernstation.wordpress.com/