Station Manager, Anthony Turner, says the lift will be a big improvement for Redfern station. “Redfern is the next Newtown,” he says. “I can see it already, Redfern is heading in the right direction, a vibrant place to be.”
Originally from the Torres Strait, Anthony has links to Indigenous communities in Lismore and northern Queensland and has seen big changes at Redfern in the nine years he has been Station Duty Manager.
The new lift is the highlight of this year’s capital works program for Redfern station, but improved pedestrian access will also be a high priority.
“More barriers will be provided at Gibson and Lawson streets,” says Anthony, “although the introduction of the Opal card has already dramatically cut congestion in the station foyer.”
Transport for NSW says the lift will make the station more accessible to customers in wheelchairs and for parents with prams. More lighting and fencing will also be provided to boost security, and a secure bike cage will also be built on Lawson Street to provide commuters with a safe place to leave their bikes.
Construction of the new lift will begin after community feedback and planning approval is finalised.
The improvement plans are outlined in a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) document which also provides an overview of the potential impact of the project and how this will be managed.
