With great pride, I can announce Clarence Park Rail Station is an election winner. A public meeting organised today has prompted positive news from both the State Government and the Opposition.
Safety concerns at the Clarence Park Rail Station prompted me to make an election promise back in 2018. An election promise for resolution not at local government level but State Government level.
While focused rightfully on local government issues, I have slowly worked on lobbying for a safer Clarence Park Rail Station.
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This work has included lobbying with the two current members of Parliament whose electorate boundaries meet at the Rail Station. Jayne Stinson of Badcoe. Carolyn Power for Elder. Likewise the Minister of Transport. The Elder electorate incorporating from the next election the suburb of Clarence Park. More recently I have also lobbied non-sitting candidates, Jordan Dodd and Nadia Clancy.
The public meeting organised by Jennie and I today was meant to be the culmination of the lobbying. Turns out the meeting has achieved what I have aimed to achieve prior to the meeting being held.
Badcoe Labor incumbent Jayne and Elder candidate Nadia announced a couple of days ago that a Malinauskas Labor Government would commit $1.6m toward redevelopment of the Station. When Nadia advised me of this I was over the moon with joy. Jayne confirmed this in a letter received later the same day.
Subsequently, I heard from Jordan and Carolyn that the Government too had committed the same amount of money with the same redevelopment scope. They also confirmed that this is part of a $99m Government budget approved earlier this year. A budget for upgrading many rail stations and earmarking this station as a high priority. More importantly, set for completion within the next term of Government.
The public meeting, considering these announcements, became something of a non-event. It played its part, however.
I thank all four candidates for the commitment made they have made. I also celebrate that my work has had a positive result. Thankful on behalf of the many residents of the Clarence Park Ward of the City of Unley who see a similar need. Celebrating that I have made a significant contribution to my community at a State level.
Yes! Clarence Park Rail Station is an election winner, something I rejoice.
Any idea what they are actually going to do – that sounds like quite a lot of money. I’m nervous because mostly ‘making things safer for pedestrians’ means improving things for cars.
Brochures circulating from both sides of politics indicate new self-closing gates at each of the accesses to the platform, similar to those adjacent to Fairfax Avenue and on Victoria Street. They include a new open-sided structure (I guess similar to the one at Edwardstown). Likewise improved lighting on the platform, I guess (again) to restrict light spillage to neighbouring properties, CCTV, bike racks etc.
A safer more inviting station and platform.
Detailed design for the redevelopment may or may not have been completed yet. I doubt it. That would surely not be available until closer to a potential start date.
Sounds good!
Well done Don if not for your hard work it probably wouldn’t happen .