Community concern over accessibility at Point Clare railway station continues, with residents joining Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Road, Jenny Aitchison, and Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, for a rally on site on August 24.
With a step-free walkway having been removed as upgrade work continues, the only access from the underground tunnel to the station is via a flight of stairs.
While the Transport for NSW website says upgrades are set to be completed by October, no firm date has been given and residents are struggling with access difficulties.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said due to unforeseen changes to the staging of the project, new accessible lifts will not be open until later this year.
While apologising to the community for any inconvenience, he said the upgrade had to be done and will eventually see two new lifts connecting each platform to the commuter car parks, three new accessible parking spaces and an accessible toilet.
“A new ramp will be provided from the new accessible parking space in the Kurrawa Ave Commuter Car Park to connect to the new lift,” he said.
But Tesch said original plans were to have ramps on both sides of the station.
Even after the current plans are finished a person with a pram, mobility scooter or wheelchair will need to use two lifts to get from one side of the station to the other, she said.
“There would also be no option for those people if either of these two lifts are out of order,” Tesch said.
Hundreds of residents have signed Tesch’s petition calling for ramp options to be delivered on both sides of the station.
Aitchison said the situation was “totally unacceptable”.
“Every commuter deserves access on our NSW state rail network – but for thousands of people with disabilities, elderly passengers and travelling parents and carers, under this Government that isn’t the case,” she said.
As the upgrade proceeds, passengers with a disability, limited mobility, luggage or prams can call 1800 775 465 at any time to arrange access from one side of the station to the other.
This service will be in place until the new accessible lifts are open and will provide either taxi vouchers or a traffic controller to meet the person at the stairs to assist them to negotiate access.
Onsite project workers and traffic controllers have also been briefed to assist those customers who need help with moving from one side of the rail corridor to the other during the day.
Terry Collins