Help fight the State Government's proposal to relocate Schofields Railway Station by registering your objection online..
PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE SCHOFIELDS STATION
Background
The Minister for Transport recently made an announcement that a new railway station is proposed for Schofields. The new railway station will replace the existing station, but will be located approximately 800 metres south of the current station location towards Quakers Hill. This announcement was made without any consultation with the local community. The existing Station will be demolished
Blacktown City Council has resolved to object in the strongest terms to the proposed relocation of Schofields Railway Station for the following reasons:-
- The movement of the Station from its current location will significantly impact on the economic viability of local shops which are currently clustered around the existing Station. The loss of commuter patronage could cause significant loss of income for these shops.
- It is expected that the proposed relocated Schofields Station would include at least some retail facilities, which would further limit the ability of the existing shops to compete and remain economically viable.
- Schofields Station is in the centre of an existing residential community. The movement of the station 800m from its current location will leave the existing residential community disadvantaged with a loss of access and inconvenience.
- Whilst the new station location may provide additional opportunities for commuter car parking, many existing Schofields residents will no longer be able to walk to the station therefore potentially increasing reliance on private vehicles.
- The North West Structure Plan identifies a new major centre at a railway station in the south-eastern corner of the Alex Avenue Precinct. This was known as the "Nirimba town centre". Council supported a new station in this location to serve the future residential community as the land around it is released for urban development. With a new station at Nirimba, the existing Schofields Station would remain in situ. The removal of Schofields Station from the existing community, in lieu of provision of the previously planned Nirimba Station in addition to the existing Schofields Station (ie. one station instead of two stations) is an unacceptable outcome for both the existing and future communities.
Council called a Public Meeting on Sunday 4 May 2008, to offer the community an opportunity to voice concerns regarding the proposed relocation of Schofields Station. Council was pleased with the community interest in this important issue. Approximately 300 people residing in and around Schofields attended this meeting.
Representatives from the NSW Growth Centres Commission (GCC), the Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (TIDC) and Railcorp also attended the meeting to provide the context in which the proposal to relocate the station was put forward. Justification included improved operating efficiency for the Richmond railway line and opportunities for development of commuter car parking and a bus interchange at the new station location.
Councillor Alan Pendleton, Councillor Ron Alder and the Honorable John Aquilina MP, Member for Riverstone addressed the local community. These elected members raised very strong objections to the proposal to relocate the station and indicated they would fight to protect the interests of Schofields residents.
The people of Schofields and Blacktown City need to and WILL UNITE to have this appalling proposal to relocate the Station away from the existing community.
Please sign this online petition and show your protest against the relocation of Schofields Station!
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