Greens MLC Ian Cohen has referred the NSW Government’s City Rail Easy Access Program to the Auditor General after Transport Minister, David Campbell, refused to provide station priority rankings or explain why progress on the stations is falling way behind Federal Government 2012 targets.
“The CityRail Easy Access Program upgrades New South Wales train stations to provide universal access for people with disabilities, the elderly, and less mobile commuters. The Program is not on track to satisfy 2012 targets in the Federal Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, which requires 55% of stations to have independent wheelchair accessibility by 2012. Upon the figures supplied by the Minister only 43% of NSW Stations will have universal access by 2012.
“The Easy Access scheme has been subject of both a Call for Papers in the NSW Parliament and a Freedom of Information request from my office yet the Minister and RailCorp have refused to state individual stations rankings and prioritisation.
“Public disclosure of the priority rankings would demonstrate whether the program was upgrading stations for universal access based upon need and not marginal electorate gain. The priority ranking assists the NSW Government to decide which City Rail stations require wheelchair and frail aged access as a matter of priority.”
“Nine out of 11 NSW rail stations selected for upgrades are in Labor-held seats. Six of the 11 upgrades are in what are believed to be ‘key’ electorates for the 2011 election poll.
“Transport Department documents released recently showed that Lawson in Phil Koperburg's seat of the Blue Mountains ranked 214 on the list and Waterfall in Paul McLeay's electorate of Heathcote ranked 212. Both have been promised million dollar upgrades. North Warnervale in David Harris' marginal Wyong electorate is to get a $40 million upgrade.
“The public has a right to be assured that the Easy Access program is strategically providing universal access to train stations across NSW. The provision of universal access is a human rights issue. The rights of people with disabilities - and others who cannot negotiate many of the state’s railway stations - must be the priority for station upgrades.
“Unfortunately the Minister refuses to provide the public with the necessary information to demonstrate stations are not being selected for electoral gain. This leaves me no other option but to refer the matter to the NSW Auditor General for investigation.”
More information: Ian Cohen 0409 989 466
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