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- 5 September 2002
Gymea Railway Station Easy Access
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Speakers - Collier Mr Barry
Business - Private Members Statements
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Page: 4754
Mr COLLIER (Miranda) [5.53 p.m.]: The number 36 is significant for the people of Gymea: 36 is the number of concrete steps from Gymea Bay Road to the platform at Gymea railway station. But 36 steps are just too hard for our seniors, the disabled and families with young children who want to use Gymea railway station. The solution is simple. We need a lift installed at Gymea station. For the past 15 months I have written to the Minister for Transport. The last letter I received from him said:
You can be assured that the needs of commuters using Gymea Railway Station will be kept in mind as future program priorities are being determined.
That is not good enough. We need a lift installed at Gymea station, but not at some time in the future, and we need better access to the station sooner rather than later. During the past few weeks a petition has circulated among Gymea locals supporting my campaign for the urgent installation of a lift. On Tuesday I presented that petition containing 3,200 signatures to the Minister for Transport. Today I presented the Minister with a further 400 signatures, making a total of 3,600 signatures, 100 signatures for each of the 36 steps at Gymea railway station. The petition should put to rest any doubt that my constituents need a lift at Gymea station. However, if the petition is not enough I will refer to various letters I have received from my constituents. Dixie Cole of Gymea Bay wrote:
It is appalling that a busy train station like Gymea ... still does not have "Easy Disabled Access". Instead, it has many steep steps making it impossible for many to use when it is supposed to be a public facility. This forces these people ... to find another train station to use.
And indeed they do; they go to Miranda and Sutherland. Coral Hesford wrote:
I have struggled with prams and small children for many years and now on "sore knee" days have to pluck up considerable reserves to step up to Gymea Bay Road.
However my worst experience was when an asthma attack overcame me while travelling home from the city a couple of years ago, and at which time, I really felt I was going to die while struggling up the steps … Thank heavens my asthma is now under control but the experience has always made me aware of other people's plights.
Mrs Harris from Gymea Bay wrote:
There is an URGENT requirement [for a lift at Gymea] ... Elderly people have great difficulty coping with the steps and the steepness, as well as the disabled people.
Margaret Claydon from Miranda wrote:
The installation of a lift has to be the most important upgrade this station could ever have.
Having lived in this Shire since 1966 and having used the station when my children were young babies, I can tell you it was an ordeal when catching the train, having to try and get the pram, with a baby in it as well, down the stairs while at the same time trying to hold the hands of your other young child to make sure they got down the stairs safely. It was such an ordeal it was something you hardly ever did. In a lot of cases, because there was no luxury of a car, in order to get to Miranda Fair or Cronulla or Sutherland, or indeed anywhere else, the train was your only way of transport. In this day and age we have the use of lifts at railway stations and Gymea Station should be upgraded-it is certainly long overdue. Also there are a lot of elderly people living in Gymea who now have to travel to Miranda to the banks since the NAB and St George recently shut their doors in Gymea.
Ellen Walker of Gymea wrote:
Even when I was younger I felt these very steep steps at Gymea railway. Now I am a senior after having lived there for 50 years, so our lift is long overdue.
Loris and Doug Woodman of Gymea wrote:
I am 80 and my husband is 82.
Returned Service Man.
We would love a lift.
The need for a lift at Gymea railway station is obvious. It is long overdue. Seniors and disabled people in my electorate cannot access the platform. I have young mums with prams and young kids trying to get down the stairs. We need this lift urgently. I call on the Minister for Transport to bite the bullet and provide an easy access upgrade and a lift for my constituents at Gymea. I thank my constituents for supporting my campaign for a lift at this important station in my electorate.
Last modified 05/12/2007 16:39:56 : Update this page