Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Lifts opposed at Gordon station

posted Monday 26 January 2004

CityRail has lodged a development application 1385/03 with Ku-ring-gai Council proposing the staged introduction of easy access facilities at Gordon station including three lifts. Submissions on the D.A. closed on 9th January 2004.

Opposition to the proposal, on the grounds of its effects on a heritage Edwardian station, has come from council's Heritage Advisory Committee (an advisory committee comprised of Ku-ring-gai community members and several Councillors. Several of the community members represent other heritage organisations such as the National Trust, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) , the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society and the Friends of Ku-ring-gai (FOKE). Members of the Committee have strong interests and expertise in heritage or history).

It has been reported in the North Shore Times of 24th January that the two Gordon Ward councillors are opposed to the proposal.

Opposition has also been expressed directly by the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society.

The railway at that point is the boundary between the electorates of Ku-ring-gai (Barry O'Farrell, Lib) and Davidson (Andrew Humpherson, Lib). Mr O'Farrell has supported the proposal, citing the 15,000 passengers who use the station daily. Mr Humpherson supports proper disabled / elderly access. But he believes the design must be sympathetic with the current character of station. Mr Humpherson has asked Ku-ring-gai Council to get heritage advice on the design proposed by State rail.

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