Schofields residents try to solve parking crisis at station

While politicians squabble over funding to ease parking at Schofields train station, residents of a cul-de-sac are wheeling out their bins to thwart commuters choking their driveways.

Wendy and Kurt Hippe at Bridge St, Schofields, near their home. Picture: Angelo Velardo

• Schofields’ struggles
• Last ditch effort to save wetlands

WHILE politicians squabble over funding to ease parking at Schofields train station, residents of a cul-de-sac are wheeling out their bins to thwart commuters choking their driveways.

Kurt and Wendy Hippe’s home of 38 years, Tain Place, is 700m from the station and been a defacto carpark for the past two years while the suburb heaves under the pressure of a population explosion.

Wendy and Kurt Hippe are used to their cul-de-sac being used as a carpark. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“The commuters park across driveways,’’ Mr Hippe said.

“We’ve got people who work night shift and they can’t park in the street because of the commuters.”

Cue the bins.

Mr Hippe, who is also the Riverstone Chamber of Commerce president, dismissed the government’s notion that parking at Tallawong station, to open at Rouse Hill next year, would ease problems at Schofields.

Kurt Hippe at Schofields train station, where parking is full by 7am. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“The parking issue’s not going to get any better even though they say there’s all these parking spots at Tallawong — that’s not going to help someone going to Burwood or Parramatta,’’ he said.

“Given Blacktown Council’s approval of a high-rise at the vet site (at Burdekin Rd), they’re going to be very close to Schofields station more than Tallawong.

“Nothing is going to relieve the parking problem except a multi-deck commuter carpark.”

Mr Hippe called on the government to take action.

“It’s going to be significant if Kevin Conolly doesn’t do something about the carpark in Schofields,’’ he said.

“The ball’s in his court. I’m not Labor or Liberal but I’m happy to support somebody who would do something about the carparking.”

THE POLITICS OF PARKING

SCHOFIELDS commuters’ efforts to secure parking have suffered a setback after Labor claimed Liberals’ voted against supporting its pledge in Parliament on Tuesday for a carpark.

Riverstone state Labor candidate Annemarie Christie slammed the Liberal Party for abandoning Schofields commuters and voting against a Labor proposal to build a commuter carpark at the station.

Labor moved a motion in Parliament last Tuesday asking members to commit to a commuter carpark in the suburb where drivers are often forced to park more than 1km from the station if reach the spot after 7am.

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly.

Annemarie Christie.

In September local, state and federal Labor pledged $30 million for 500 extra spaces at Schofields train station.

Mrs Christie said last week’s refusal showed Mr Conolly and his party were out of touch with the electorate.

“Commuters across the Riverstone electorate are crying out for better commuter carparking facilities,’’ she said.

“Kevin Conolly’s priorities are spending billions of dollars on Sydney stadiums, my priorities are providing better public transport infrastructure and funding our schools and hospitals.”

A multi-deck carpark is the only alternative to solve Schofields’ parking problems, political leaders and residents say.

But Mr Conolly said the Liberal Party’s refusal to respond to NSW treasury spokesman Ryan Park’s motion was not a rejection of the carpark.

“It wasn’t a motion, it was part of the theatre of question time.

“It was a motion about what to talk about, it’s not a motion to build the carpark.

“I didn’t want to give Ryan Park time to bag out the government.”

Mr Conolly said he most recently discussed parking struggles with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet for extra spaces.

“I’m looking for many hundreds of car spaces,’’ he said.