Last year, a petition of 10,000 signatures supporting the addition of
lift access at Redfern station was brought before State Parliament but
the matter was dismissed after a brief 20-minute discussion.
The campaign, however, continues and the online petition will be used to
request the immediate installation of lifts on platforms 11 and 12 as
an interim measure, as well as ask for an exact timeframe as to when
work will start on completely upgrading the station.
Under the Federal Disability Legislation in the Accessible Transport
Action Plan, 55 per cent of infrastructure across the entire NSW rail
network should have been made wheelchair accessible by the end 2012 and
100 per cent should be accessible by the end of 2022.
Lift Redfern spokesman Geoff Turnbull said only 43 per cent of stations are currently accessible.
Mr Turnbull said in the meantime the upgrades to platforms 11 and
12 could be accomplished without having to alter the existing station.
‘‘Platforms 11 and 12 are wide – these could be easily upgraded
without major work needing to be undertaken to the rest of the
station,’’ he said. ‘‘To put lifts on the other platforms it is going to
be a very expensive exercise because the platforms will need to be made
wider.
‘‘That is why we are just asking for those two platforms to begin
with, so people who have mobility difficulties can at least get from
Central to Redfern.’’
If you would like to get involved with the campaign, visit
liftredfernstation.wordpress.com or facebook.com/liftredfern or email
liftredfern@gmail.com
Source: Central 6 March 2013 Printed edition
Sign the petition at: www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/lift-redfern-make-redfern-station-accessible-now