Cardiff Railway Station Parking

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-103598

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Cardiff Railway Station Parking

Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend) (13:05:53):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Notes that Cardiff Railway Station is one of the most heavily used stations in the Newcastle area.

(2)Considers that there is inadequate commuter parking at and around the station.

(3)Urges the Minister for Transport to address and improve parking issues at Cardiff Railway Station as a matter of urgency.

Newcastle Herald

Dozens of commuters were slapped with parking fines during April when inspectors descended upon Cardiff railway station. Resident complaints prompted Lake Macquarie City Council to conduct a compliance exercise, and parking inspectors issued fines to drivers parked on land in Mary Street in the vicinity of Cardiff railway station. Commuters have routinely been forced to make use of non-parking areas around the station in order to catch trains to Sydney because of the utter lack of parking. In 2014, soon after the upgrade to Cardiff station, a Belmont resident commented in the :

Thank God they put the elevator at the station—they want you to go there but where the … hell do you park?

The then member for Charlestown, Andrew Cornwell, shot down suggestions that a new car park facility be built near the station to help address this issue. But four years later the problem has persisted, causing headaches for local residents and for commuters who want to utilise the station. I do not say that the council did the wrong thing by conducting the compliance exercise, especially as it was in response to complaints from residents. However, council also did the right thing in deciding to waive the fees later, especially because there was no signage at the Mary Street land designating it as a non-parking area and the ongoing parking crush that happens around the station every day. A resident who contacted my office said:

I get that people heading to Sydney need somewhere to park but the situation as it stands is putting too much pressure on those who live around the station. I understand that. Cardiff station is one of Newcastle's busiest transport hubs, with hundreds of thousands of people using the station every year. For residents of Wallsend and Newcastle's western suburbs Cardiff station is the vital key point of connection with Sydney. One constituent told me:

I work in Sydney frequently. I used to be able to catch the bus to Cardiff Station. This gave me enough time to get the train and arrive in Sydney before nine—now, with changes to the local bus routes and time tables, I have no option but to drive to the station. Even before the sun comes up, there are hardly any parks around the station.

Indeed, many people travelling to metropolitan areas from the western suburbs for work, appointments and leisure pursuits rely on Cardiff station. Commuters must park on surrounding residential streets, clogging the roads and potentially leading to an increase in local crime rates compared to the State average. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research the rate of motor vehicle theft in the Cardiff area was 210 per cent higher than the State average from July 2017 to June 2018. The rate of steal from motor vehicle in the area was 178 per cent higher than the State average over the same period. Another constituents said:

If I come back from Sydney late, it's often a risky proposition walking to my car from Cardiff station. Cardiff is a great place, but the streets around the station are dark and more than a little scary for a woman walking alone.

We need a safe, secure car parking area close to the station. This Government has maintained the former member for Charlestown's utter lack of interest in the issue, steadfastly refusing to engage with Lake Macquarie City Council on the Glendale transport interchange. A new station at Glendale would massively reduce the pressure on Cardiff, and a modern station could be built with suitable transport linkages and parking facilities. As usual, though, this Government thinks that Newcastle ends in Hamilton. I call on the Minister for Transport to listen to the needs of Cardiff residents and Cardiff commuters. I ask this Government to take the transport needs of the western suburbs seriously. We are a rapidly growing community and we have enormous economic potential, but this potential is being untapped due to this Government's neglect. I want the Government to pay attention to our Wallsend constituents, please.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (13:12:20):

It is an honour and a privilege to speak on the member for Wallsend's motion on parking at Cardiff railway station. In the last 7½ years this Government has delivered a number of station upgrades, including accessibility upgrades, car parking upgrades and improvements to public transport interchanges not only across Sydney but also across New South Wales. In the electorate of Oatley I am the expert when it comes to upgrades to stations and commuter car parks. Oatley station has been upgraded. Narwee station has been upgraded. The commuter car park at Oatley has been upgraded from 18 spots to 100. Funding is in the budget for the upgrade of the station at Beverly Hills, and the plans have recently gone on public exhibition. In downtown Riverwood we are mounting a campaign and putting pressure on the Premier and the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for an upgrade to the station there.

This Government is committed to delivering safe, modern and accessible public transport across the State, not just in Sydney. Since 2011 more than 450 projects have been completed or are underway across the State, including accessibility upgrades, more car parking spaces, improvements to transport interchanges and facilities such as Opal-activated bike sheds. To date we have made 173 of the 300 stations on the suburban and intercity networks accessible, meaning that more than 90 per cent of customer trips across the network are accessible. I understand that the member for Wallsend is concerned about accessibility at Cardiff station and I am sure that she has raised her concerns with the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.

A further $882 million will be invested in the Transport Access Program [TAP] over the forward estimates, on top of the $1.2 billion already invested since 2011 to fund accessibility upgrades at stations, ferry wharves and transport interchanges. This means the total investment in the program is set to exceed $2 billion. At present, 174 of the 307 stations on the suburban and intercity networks are accessible, which covers around 90 per cent of all customer journeys. On the Metro network itself more than 4,000 car parking spaces are planned or underway as part of the Sydney Metro North West project, including at Bella Vista, Cherrybrook, Kellyville and Showground. On the South West Rail Link, which opened in 2015, 1,205 spaces were provided at Leppington and Edmondson Park stations. On the TAP we have delivered approximately 6,000 new spaces since coming to government. The stations include Killara, Kiama, Hornsby, Holsworthy, Padstow, Revesby, Penrith, Blacktown, Dubbo, Engadine, Fairfield, Richmond, Rockdale, Woy Woy, Yass, Thirroul and Springwood. We have completed our commitment to hand back around 1,200 staff parking spaces to commuters since coming to government.

Newcastle will soon have a world-class integrated public transport system, futureproofed—I love the word—active transport networks and more efficient traffic networks that support buses, taxis, commercial vehicles and private vehicle movements. The Newcastle City Centre Parking Strategy sets out a series of principles and opportunities for parking in the Newcastle city centre. These findings broadly align with findings of previous studies performed by or for Newcastle City Council. We are taking upgrading public transport very seriously after 16 long, hard, stressful years when those opposite were in government and nothing happened.

Members opposite did very little in respect of train station upgrades and railway line upgrades. They had 10 transport plans, but they did not implement one of them—in fact, we remember the 2003 State election when the then Labor Minister for Transport, Carl Scully, announced no public transport strategy. We are getting on with the job of upgrading train stations, rebuilding train stations and ensuring that commuters have a place to park legally, so they are not forced to park in local streets. That is why we have campaigned very strongly for a train station at Beverly Hills. We are getting on with the job of delivering on that and on delivering upgrades across the State. Government members are getting on with the job of ensuring that we have the best public transport system in the world.

Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (13:18:15):

I begin my contribution to the debate on the member for Wallsend's motion on Cardiff railway station parking by acknowledging that she is a passionate member. I endorse her comments and her strong and passionate representation on behalf of the people of Wallsend, including for parking at the Cardiff train station. Unfortunately, inadequate commuter car parking is an issue that is rife throughout the network, despite what the member for Oatley said on this matter. Inadequate car parking is particularly problematic in my electorate of Campbelltown. The state of commuter car parking in Campbelltown can only be described as disgraceful. Finding a car space at Campbelltown train station is practically impossible—in fact, this State Government had a better chance of winning the recent by-election in Wagga Wagga than commuters have of getting a car parking spot at Campbelltown by 7.00 a.m.

Development in surrounding areas, particularly in Camden, has placed a great deal of pressure on substandard infrastructure such as rail. Every day hundreds of residents in Oran Park and Gregory Hills jump in their cars and head west, bound for Campbelltown train station. Many leave before the sun rises so that they can secure one of the limited commuter car parking spaces. The increase in demand from new residents in the Macarthur region has far outweighed the supply of car parking spaces. Indeed, the Minister for Planning, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, and the Premier, are all responsible for the mess.

This Government has failed in its duty to make sure infrastructure is in place to accommodate the new residents in our region. It is not good enough to pass the buck, which we all too often hear. I was delighted to hear the member for Oatley refer to the 16 years of Labor Government but that means nothing to people out in the suburbs. They want plans for tomorrow to take us into the future. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word "plan" as "a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something". If it was the plan of this Government to dump thousands of residents into a small area without adequate services, then my congratulations on a job well done. That is precisely what it is doing. However, I can assure the Government that there will be no pats on the back from me, the residents of Campbelltown or the residents of the wider Macarthur. It beggars belief that this Government seeks to take credit on the broader scale, rather than to acknowledge the seriousness of this issue.

The lack of commuter car parking spaces is not the only problem we face in our region. We also have consistently late trains, non-air-conditioned carriages and the removal of direct services to Parramatta. Every decision made by this Government regarding the T8 service has been detrimental to the commuters of Campbelltown. But the root of everything that is wrong with this Liberal-Nationals State Government was when the Premier, in her then capacity as Minister for Transport, promised to build an extra 450 commuter car spaces at Campbelltown station. Not one sod has been turned and not even one commuter car space is planned to be delivered.

That failure by this Government proves that it cannot be trusted. Before an election it will say one thing and then it will do something completely different after the election. In this instance, the Government has done nothing. My Labor colleague and member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong, has also been vocal about this issue, but the silence of our other neighbouring members has been deafening. I commend Dr Mike Freelander, the Federal member for Macarthur, for being a strong advocate. My message to the Government is simple: Deliver the car park that was promised prior to the 2015 State election.

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (13:22:19):I speak to the motion of the member for Wallsend. I hope that when the member thanks all members for their contributions to this debate, which is her normal practice, she will note that the member for Campbelltown did not comment on the Cardiff railway station. The member for Campbelltown focused only on his electorate.

Transport for NSW plays a key role in enabling accessibility and social inclusion. Commuter car parking [CCP] is an important component of developing and delivering integrated transport networks. I note that the Minister for Disability Services is in the Chamber. He is also a fierce advocate for accessibility and social inclusion at train stations right across New South Wales. Public transport interchanges are the gateway to the public transport network. This is where customers join or transfer between modes on the transport system, including combinations of rail, bus, car, taxi, ferry, light rail, bicycle and walking.

Transport interchanges encompass infrastructure facilities to provide shelter and amenity in a secure comfortable environment whilst waiting, they also provide journey information and allow for safe, quick and easy customer access to the transport network. CCP is an important component of transport interchanges. Transport interchanges are also a key focal point within town centres and neighbourhoods. The development of an interchange and any associated CCP needs to be complementary to the land use in the catchment area and integrate with the local landform. It needs to acknowledge heritage and be sympathetic to the surrounding urban domain. CCP development to date has been undertaken as part of the Transport Access Program, which has funded station upgrades, interchange improvements, ferry wharf upgrades and commuter car parks across New South Wales.

This program has principally focused on the 580 major interchanges in the transport network, including all rail stations, all major ferry wharves, all bus T-way stops and major bus stops along "trunk" bus corridors. Decisions about this program have been informed by a prioritisation process that considers the level of demand, the role of the interchange and the local demographics or users of the interchange. CCP planning has been guided by the 2012 NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan. This document has provided the framework for planning an integrated transport system and set out the overall priorities to guide where funds are invested.

Relevant to CCP, the vision for transport interchanges set out in the 2012 master plan include the development within the walking and cycling catchments of local centres to improve access to local services and public transport that link to major centres, with seamless interchange opportunities; outer suburbs to be supported by enhanced road connections and interchange improvements that make it easier to use public transport; and in regional New South Wales to provide CCP facilities or links from motorways to train stations and bus interchanges to allow people in regional areas to link car trips to public transport services as part of their journey. The New South Wales Government committed to reviewing the Long Term Transport Master Plan after five years; Future Transport is the result of that review. It will replace the 2012 plan and be the new approach to planning transport and engaging with customers. This 40-year strategy will focus on customer needs as well as the technological, economic and social changes ahead, and will ultimately guide CCP provisions in New South Wales.

Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown) (13:26:25):

I support the member for Wallsend's motion regarding the inadequacy of the car parking at the heavily used Cardiff railway station and urging the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure to fix this inadequacy as a matter of urgency. I commend the member for Wallsend for bringing this matter to the attention of the House. This problem with car parking at Cardiff station has been a long-standing issue for which I have seen no resolution in my time as mayor of Lake Macquarie and as the member for Charlestown. The people of Charlestown use Cardiff station because it is the closest train station for them to catch a limited-stop service on the Newcastle and Central Coast line to Sydney.

There is no denying that Cardiff railway station is one of the most heavily used stations in the region and that in recent years it has seen significant growth in the number of commuters who use it. Indeed, figures show that more 300,000 commuters per year use the station. Unfortunately, appropriate planning was not put in place to provide for the growth in the number of commuters. Cardiff station has a very limited scope for expanded car parking due to the adjoining residential houses and challenging topography of the area, which also restricts accessibility. I note that the member for Wallsend has fought for many years for increased accessibility and a longer platform at the station. Unfortunately, the upgrades were short-sighted and planning for increased car spaces did not follow.

The New South Wales Government lists a commuter car park as a facility on its website for Cardiff station. However, upon arrival commuters are often disappointed to find that there are no unused car spaces between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. That is very misleading. The station is surrounded by houses and residents are sick of the parking congestion. Limited parking is also an issue for the elderly or less able bodied, who are unable to walk long distances to get to the train station. Indeed, car parking spaces are so limited that commuters are parking illegally and risking fines on a daily basis. Lake Macquarie City Council recently transferred its landholding in the immediate area of Cardiff station to Transport for NSW, which included part of the car park, for $1 to maximise the use of available land for car parking purposes. Minor access and car park improvements were undertaken as a result of that transfer, but the car spaces are full and the streets are lined with cars. We need a long-term solution.

The Minister repeatedly says that he wants people to utilise public transport in this State but does little to encourage them. Given that there is such limited space for more car spaces around this station, it is time to start looking at other alternatives such as the development of a multistorey car park or investing in the development of a new train station and facilities to allow commuters to transfer easily between modes of transport. For many years it has been the position of Lake Macquarie City Council that the best long-term solution is the development of the Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange, which would include the provision of a new train station. The New South Wales Government's Hunter Regional Plan 2036 also identifies the Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange as a high-priority infrastructure project because of its "potential to unlock growth and improve the connectivity and viability of major centres throughout the Hunter region", yet the project was tragically denied funding yet again in the 2018-2019 budget.

Business interrupted.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Greg Aplin):

I shall now leave chair. The House will resume at 2.15 p.m.