Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has welcomed the upgrade of Lindfield Railway Station – but wants to know why it is taking so long.
“Work began last year and was advertised to be completed by ‘mid 2009’,” Mr O’Dea said.
“However, the project is still unfinished, forcing the public to continue negotiating a ‘work site’.
“Two new lifts have been installed but a large sign at the entrance to both informs would-be users that the lifts will not be operational until September,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The footpath adjacent to the station, along Lindfield Avenue, continues to be fenced off, with another sign asking pedestrians to use the footpath on the opposite side of the street.
Yet another sign states the ‘Footpath (will be) closed 23 May until mid June, due to construction’, and directs pedestrians to use a new crossing at Tryon Road. (See photos)
“The fact the sign is so far out of date highlights the gap in the Government’s delivery of services.
“When can commuters expect to access the footpaths and lifts? These are particularly important to people who are disabled and others in the community, such as mothers with prams,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The Government’s record of delivering on time and on budget is poor.
“The Lindfield Station project is clearly not being delivered on time – the next question is whether it’s being delivered on budget,” Mr O’Dea said.
A further example of the gap in the delivery of services is the latest draft of the revised North Shore timetable, due for implementation in October, which indicates there is a 19 minute gap for trains leaving from the City for Lindfield on weekdays between 4.25 and 4.44pm.
“Now, when the public is warned to “mind the gap”, they also need to prepare for the Government’s gap in the delivery of rail services,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
