Doonside station receives $961,000 from State Government for “refresher” updates

Doonside station will receive funding for a new coat of paint; but has missed out on access funding for a lift.

Doonside train station has missed out on funding for an elevator. Elderly or disabled people find the long ramp and the stairs to be beyond their capabilities.

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The wait continues for Doonside residents hoping to see upgrades to access at Doonside station.

The residents’ hopes for the installation of a lift to cater to the large elderly and disabled population continue to go unanswered, but may be one step closer with new “refresher” updates and funding announced.

The State Government will be investing more than $5.5 million to “improve the safety, comfort and amenity” of seven western Sydney railway stations, including Doonside, which is set to receive more than $960,000.

The funding will go toward cleaning and a fresh coat of paint to buildings, platforms and fixtures, minor repairs, upgrades to toilets, fixing gardens, installing bird- proof prongs, and replacing seats and rubbish bins.

Pictured: Stephen Bali (Mayor of Blacktown City) with locals — Doonside Railway Station has never had a lift in the 135 years of its existence. Photographs taken of people outside of the entrance who feel it is time a lift is installed. Hill End Road, Doonside NSW Australia

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly said the announcement would go hand-in-hand with a separate “Easy Access” program.

However, changes will not be occurring any time soon, with Doonside station missing out on the most recent $200 million funding for access being given to Beecroft, Beverly Hills, Casula, Como and Glenbrook stations.

The funding is part of the government’s own access program.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state Budget’s funding boost will grant more than 70 other accessibility projects including upgrades to stations and wharves, more car spaces and new Opal-activated bike sheds.

The Doonside community has been lobbying the government for a station lift for 25 years.

In the 2011 Census, 840 Doonside residents reported needing help in their day-to-day lives because of a disability.

Doonside train station. Commuters are in desperate need for a lift at the station for the elderly and disabled.

Narayan Dhimal and Lucas Cayanan sign a petition for a lift at Doonside train station.

The area also has a high elderly rate, with 1949 people over 60 in Doonside.

Joseph Ciappara has lived in Doonside for 43 years but has never seen the station upgraded.

“I see a lot of people making noise, but we don’t want noise, we want action. They keep saying they’re looking into it, but that’s it, they don’t do anything.”

The 78-year-old catches the train weekly and struggles to reach the platform, which has no lift or escalators.

Mr Ciappara said the government kept doing “Band-Aid jobs”, which would one day cause injuries on the platform.

“You need to stay here for two hours and you’ll see people struggling and mums with their prams unable to go on the ramp,” he said.

The Blacktown Advocate and Blacktown Council is continuing its campaign for a lift at Doonside station.

A total of 10,000 signatures must be collected for Blacktown state Labor MP John Robertson to raise the issue in Parliament.