Schofields station parking crisis: Labor promises $300m for extra carparks
SCHOFIELDS’ dire commuter parking problem was highlighted during the NSW Labor Conference on Sunday when the party pledged $300 million to alleviate the crisis across transport hubs.
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SCHOFIELDS’ dire commuter parking problem was highlighted during the NSW Labor Conference on Sunday when the party pledged $300 million to alleviate the problems at Sydney’s bottleneck transport hubs.
Speaking at the conference, federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the line connecting St Marys to Rouse Hill station and Badgerys Creek to St Marys demanded more spaces.
He said the $300 million would be allocated for multistorey carparks across the nation.
“As well as maximising the economic spin-offs that will come with the airport we also want to make it easier for locals to get around western Sydney,’’ Mr Shorten said.
“The north-south line won’t do the job by itself.”
He said Greenway federal Labor MP Michelle Rowland told him commuters were forced to order an Uber to reach the station.
“One proposition I hear time and time again when I meet people who commute to the city from the suburbs, they complain to me that every parking space at their local station’s gone well before 7am,’’ he said.
“What a terrible way to start your day — rushed, stressed, hoping it doesn’t rain, worried you’ll get a parking ticket or you’ll miss your train.
“And then, of course, you’ve got your trip home. When you just want to go home at the end of the day you’ve got to go through those same hassles again but at night time, with poor lighting. This discourages people from using public transport.”
But Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly dismissed the funding as inadequate.
He said the $300 million for stations across Australia over four years would mean just $75 million and $25 million for the nation and NSW respectively annually. “When you’re spreading the money that thinly, there’s no guarantee,” he said.
He said the State Government had already allocated $882 million in its Transport Access Program over four years and 8000 car spaces were set aside for commuter carparks.
“Even if Bill Shorten would be elected he would not be in a position to deliver a carpark until 2020,’’ Mr Conolly said.
State Labor candidate for Riverstone Annemarie Christie said specific allocations would soon be assessed to receive support for Schofields. “The fact he (Mr Shorten) mentioned Schofields specifically is great,’’ she said.
She said the State Government’s plan to boost Schofields with 60 spaces was not enough and 500 spaces would be the Labor target.
Schofields commuter Ashleigh Hopkins, 21, thinks the solution to the problem is a massive carpark.
“There just needs to be a huge, huge, huge carpark built with massive levels and unlimited spots every day,” she said.
Ms Hopkins, who commutes to her job as a financial planner in the city starts work at 10am and tries to get dropped off to avoid missing a parking spot.
“It’s a huge pain every day,’’ she said.
But Colebee resident Wei Chong, an accountant who commutes to the city, said extra car spots would not solve the crisis.
“I don’t have the buses from Colebee,’’ he said.
“The carpark they build might not be built fast enough for the growing population so I think it’s better to provide public transport.”
Mr Chong, 43, said even a 1000-space carpark at Tallawong station, Rouse Hill, would be inadequate against a booming population.
Ashish and Anushka Lad endure a 1.5km, 25-minute walk from their car to the station and say on a bad day parking stretches to Pelican and Burdekin roads — more than 4km from the station.
“We have to wake up early and drop the kids off early,’’ Mr Lad said.
Mrs Lad said the parking consumes a big chunk out of their week.
“It doesn’t give you flexibility,’’ the IT worker said.
Anjelica Whitelaw of Schofields is fortunate enough to get a lift to the station and avoid more stress.
“I used to drive but the parking is horrendous,’’ the paralegal who commutes to the city said.
“When I lived at Quakers Hill, Schofields was my closest station.
“There’s not even proper parking.
“Schofields is a beautiful area; you think it would be more developed.
“You see people driving in the suburbs but it’s really dangerous.”
Rob Baldwin, who commutes to the city for his job as a web developer, said it was not always safe at night.
“You don’t have much visibility around the corner (up from Railway Terrace),” he said.
He said the parking warranted an overhaul.
“A complete redesign of the carpark is needed, especially the kiss and drop area,’’ he said.
“There’s a lot of road rage going on. It’s not healthy.’’
Mr Baldwin said the parking crisis would only influence some of his vote.
“It will go in as a factor. Whether it’s a deciding factor, I doubt it.”
Matthew de Pree, a 25-year-old law student moved to Schofields from Stanhope Gardens with his family three years ago and has noticed it becoming more hectic.
“It was quiet, with farms paddocks. Even though the station is pretty close to us we still can’t get to the station on time, unless you’re one of the lucky ones who gets here at 6.30am and finds a spot (close to the station) so we’re pretty late.
“8am is very, very hectic. It drives you nuts.”
Mr de Pree, who commutes to Redfern to attend Sydney University or Parramatta where he works as a paralegal, said a multistorey carpark should be built at Woolworths opposite the station.