This morning Anoulack Chanthivong called the long wait for the upgrade to Macquarie Fields station a “journey’’.
The local MP, who is also now a minister in the Minns Government, wasn’t kidding.
For him it has been nine years since he started agitating for a fair go for local people with disabilities who just could not use their own station because of the lack of a lift.
That was back in 2015 when he first got elected to state parliament as the member for Macquarie Fields, and started metaphorically thumping the table for an upgrade.
A year later his fellow Labor Party colleague, Anne Stanley, was elected to federal parliament in the seat of Werriwa and immediately came on board the push for an upgrade at Macquarie Fields station.
Well, as both announced this morning, the wait is almost over, with work starting on the upgrade an expected to be finished in 2026.
“This is all about equity and fairness, and indeed inclusion,’’ Mr Chathivong said as he addressed the media and representatives of locals with disabilities and other commuters with special needs.
“It should have been done years ago, but that’s in the past now and soon a brand new station will be available for locals,’’ he said.
Macquarie Fields is the first Sydney station project to go to construction under the NSW Government’s $800 million Safe Accessible Transport program.
Key features of the project include a new footbridge with lifts, new stairs, a new entry forecourt, with improved canopy coverage.
There will also be accessible parking spaces, accessible kiss and ride spaces, improvements to bike parking, and upgrades to the existing bus stop on Railway Parade.
A new family accessible toilet, a new unisex ambulant toilet, new hearing loops, platform regrading and tactile indicators will integrate with safety improvements including enhanced lighting, CCTV, and wayfinding signage.
The upgrade of Macquarie Fields station has now been greenlighted to move to final design and construction with the contract for detailed design and construction awarded to Arenco in November.
Geotechnical and visual investigations are now under way, and work will really be ramping up after Christmas with site setup and construction.
Planning approval was granted following public display of the Review of Environmental Factors and community consultation.
Feedback was very positive, with requests for increased accessible and kiss and ride parking spaces, improved canopy coverage, improved lighting and safer road crossing points and improved design integration with the existing environment.
Consultation with the community and other stakeholders including local people with disability and carers will continue through the final design to ensure the upgrades better meet their needs.
All feedback received during consultation has been carefully considered and responses have been published in the determination report which is available to read at www.transport.nsw.gov.au/macquariefields
