Thursday, 18 April 2024

Sydney Road tram stops

Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) presented a petition bearing 2407 signatures:

BACKGROUND: The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that there are 5.5km without ACCESSIBLE TRAM STOPS on Sydney Rd between Brunswick Road and Bakers Road, Coburg North!

Once the Upfield train line is closed to remove the train level crossings and build a Skyrail, there will be NO accessible public transport along the Upfield corridor for at least 18 months. Where does that leave people with a disability, parents with prams, elderly people and anyone with temporary and permanent mobility restrictions?

Under federal legislation, public transport in all states was required to be fully accessible by the end of 2022.

ACTION: The petitioners request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to act on its legal responsibility to make the tram stops on Sydney Road accessible before construction on the Upfield train line starts. The tram stops must be permanent to guarantee transport users’ safety and not to waste taxpayers’ money with temporary stops.

Samantha RATNAM: As this is a petition qualifying for debate under standing order 11.03(10), I give notice that I intend to move ‘That the petition be taken into consideration’ on Wednesday of next sitting week.