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NSW Planning wants AI product solutions to make faster development applications

The NSW Government is investing $5.6 million in artificial intelligence (AI) to help reduce development application (DA) timeframes and deliver more housing.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is calling on industry to submit innovative existing and mature AI technology solutions to help reduce manual workloads for councils and to streamline the pre-lodgement phase.

Industry is invited to submit proposals from today until 11 March 2024.

Applications will be evaluated on how they address one or more priority focus areas, demonstrate low impact implementation, and align with the NSW AI Assurance Framework and AI Ethics Policy.

Successful suppliers will be asked to showcase products and share ideas with councils following the evaluation of applications.

DPHI will then confirm a list of suitable AI products and provide guidance for councils on how to engage with suppliers and select the best AI tools for the task.

Applicants have four weeks to prepare their responses, focusing on four priority areas to assist councils during the pre-lodgement DA phase.

These include:

  • A pathways and requirements finder: To help prospective applicants identify site-specific development requirements to speed up their development process.
  • Document self-assessment health check: To help applicants self-assess before lodging their DA. This aims to address any potential barriers or gaps in their documentation before they lodge.
  • Risk-based triage: To help council staff quickly identify non-compliant elements within a submission so that the triage process is efficient and improves council’s productivity.
  • Document assurance: To help council staff verify an applicant’s documentation to provide increased confidence in the quality of the material submitted.

The project is guided by six overarching principles including trust, transparency, customer benefit, fairness, privacy, and accountability.

DPHI has already worked with NSW councils to define the key challenges experienced during the pre-DA lodgement process.

More than 30 metro and regional councils have participated in workshops to date, with a focus on identifying existing AI products that can be easily implemented and used in the NSW planning system to reduce DA timeframes and deliver on the government’s priority of more housing faster.

Councils noted applicants need a simple and streamlined application process to access important information and what documentation is required for their site-specific DA.

Port Stephens Council and Wagga Wagga City Council are among the first group of enthusiastic councils to investigate how AI technologies could help enhance council DA processes.

Wagga Wagga Council Manager for Development Assessment & Building Certification Paul O’Brien said the introduction of AI will help get applications in the correct format so council isn’t going back and forth trying to clarify critical project information.

“For most of the regular clients they understand what needs to happen, however for occasional developers who might do it once or twice in their lifetime it’s very confusing and having an AI presence can help step them through it,” Mr O’Brien said.

Port Stephens Council Manager for Development and Compliance Evert Grobbelaar echoed the AI optimism, saying Council sees potential benefits to using AI in the pre-DA lodgement process, for improved application quality, reduced DA processing timeframes, and education opportunities for the community and landowners on the lodgement process.

For more information visit, the NSW Planning website.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Councils are responsible for determining approximately 85 percent of all new dwellings in NSW.

“Introducing more AI features into our planning system is about working smarter so that councils can assess DAs faster, which helps to build more homes where they are needed most.

“Using AI tools will help us cut down DA assessment times, saving proponents, councils, developers and taxpayers valuable time and money.

“AI won’t replace our highly skilled planners at the core of the planning system, but it will free them up from repetitive daily tasks so that they can focus on more complex DAs.

“The Department is also trialling AI tools such as chatbots and automated document processing to support triage queries and enhance response times for the Planning Portal.”

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Opposition calls for asbestos register for at-risk sites

The Opposition has called on the Minns Labor Government to provide greater transparency over the evolving asbestos contamination saga which has impacted schools, hospitals, transport hubs and other community sites.
 
Shadow Environment Minister Kellie Sloane says a central register, accessible to the public, should be provided by the EPA which lists all sites under investigation and the status of those investigations.
 
“The public has a right to know if playgrounds and public spaces in their suburbs are under investigation for asbestos contamination. The first time people hear about a contaminated site shouldn’t be when fences are going up or the media reports it.
 
“This register should inform the public in real time and give them the assurance to go about their daily lives. People deserve transparency while the regulators go about their important work of uncovering contaminated sites.”
 
Ms Sloane has also called for clear a minimum set of standards to be communicated with councils around practical public safety measures such as the urgency of fencing off contaminated sites.
 
“The drip-feeding of bad news needs to stop, and the Minns Labor Government needs to be clear with us the real extent of this issue and how it’s handling concerns about public health and safety.”

Planning minister fails to get his facts straight

“Representatives of the Minister offered me a briefing on the TOD SEPP “in lieu of” moving a call for papers in the Legislative Council on the rationale behind the Government’s selection of eight TOD accelerated precincts and the 31 TOD precincts. This is all in writing.”
 
“I proceeded to move a successful call for papers in Parliament, which evidently got under the Government’s skin, as communities across New South Wales want to ensure that the locations “have the capacity to support additional growth” as the Government has claimed.
 
“The only information that the Minns Labor Government has provided to the public on one of the largest rezonings in Australia’s history is a 12-page glossy document. This rezoning is due to come into place on 1 April with no opportunity for proper community consultation.”
 
“When it comes to council’s role in refusing developments in their area, the Minister, like Chris Minns, is wrong again.”
 
“Firstly, the questions to Chris Minns this morning related to the Government’s changes to create low and mid-rise housing, not even the TOD SEPP, so the Minister can’t even get his own policies right.”
 
“The Government’s Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to create low-and mid-rise housing makes it clear that the Government will set “non-refusal standards”, which will “overrule LEP or DCP provisions”.
 
“This will mean that Councils will have no choice but to approve relevant residential flat buildings, manor houses, terraces and duplexes in areas where the Minns Labor Government makes them permissible, on the grounds of maximum building height, floor space ratio, minimum site area, minimum lot width, minimum car parking, tree canopy, deep soil and tree planting rates.”
 
“It’s no wonder that Chris Minns and Minister for Planning have Labor Mayors from Burwood to the Blue Mountains up in arms and Labor backbenchers starting to revolt against Government’s plans.”
 
“Rather than telling communities to “get out of the way” it’s time that the Government listened to what the Opposition has said from the beginning and work with local communities to set housing targets, allow communities to formulate their local controls, and if they refuse to do so that’s the appropriate time to impose local planning controls – not at the beginning.”

Cover up continues: Kerian Ash resignation

Following media reports of the resignation of Kieran Ash, a former Department Liaison Officer who was under active investigation for a possible breach of his employment obligations while working in Minister Haylen’s office, the NSW Opposition contends this matter is yet to be concluded.

Documents provided to Parliament last week show Mr Ash drafted and (from his ministerial office email) sent speeches to Ms Haylen’s personal email that contained pro-Labor political language that was critical of the previous Liberal Government and worked alongside the Premier’s office to design and distribute Labor Party political brochures.

Mr Ash as a public servant was forbidden from doing pro-Labor Party political activity while in Ms Haylen’s office.

When asked repeatedly about her knowledge and participation in the staffer-rorts scandal, Ms Haylen stated under oath:

“I understand that, but the work that I engaged with this relatively junior public servant on was policy based and was in line with his responsibilities as a public servant advising government on the areas that he was working on.”[1]

These documents show this was untrue, with the curious timing of Mr Ash’s resignation only 24 hours after the Opposition raised this matter in Parliament raises further questions.

Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward commented:

“How many more people will be thrown under the bus to protect Minister Haylen.”

“The Minister first lost her chief of staff and now Mr Ash has resigned before the investigation could conclude – all key parts of this Government’s cover up.”

“The Parliamentary inquiry into this affair still needs to take place and it is the intention of the Opposition to call Minister Haylen, Mr Ash and Mr Gartrell among other witnesses.”

“I would expect the Government to support Mr Gartrell and Mr Ash as witnesses, considering they both have resigned under curious circumstances and are no longer public servants.”

Next steps on Closing the Gap: delivering remote jobs

The Albanese Government is announcing a new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED) that will help close the gap in employment outcomes by creating 3,000 jobs in remote Australia.

This $707 million investment is the first step in delivering on our commitment to replace the failed Community Development Program (CDP) with real jobs, proper wages, and decent conditions.

The new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, starting in the second half of this year, is about self-determination through economic and community development.

It will be implemented in partnership with First Nations people, build skills and experience, and deliver services that communities want.

The Albanese Labor Government is also announcing it will establish a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People to help achieve progress under the Closing the Gap agreement.

Indigenous children are almost eleven times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children. The National Commissioner will focus on working with First Nations people on evidence based programs and policies to turn those figures around.

Establishing the National Commissioner is the result of extensive discussions with the peak body, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, which has been calling for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner for many years.

An interim Commissioner will be appointed mid-year and will work with the government and First Nations expert advisers to determine the powers, roles and functions of the National Commissioner, which will be established under legislation.

The Prime Minister will today hand down the 2023 Closing the Gap Annual Report and the 2024 Implementation Plan. The report assesses progress and commits to new initiatives focussed on improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Other key initiatives include:

  • $30.2 million for Remote Training Hubs in up to seven remote locations in Central Australia.
  • $10.7 million to continue funding for the Justice Policy Partnership, working to reduce incarceration rates.
  • Community Wi-Fi services for around 20 remote communities so people can access government services, education and stay connected, with funding arrangements to be settled through commercial negotiations with NBN Co.
  • $24 million to expand the Junior Rangers program to 50 sites to boost engagement and attendance rates of First Nations students.

Significant progress has also been made against commitments made in the 2023 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan:

  • 183 people have enrolled in the Health Worker Traineeship Program as part of our commitment to funding 500 First Nations health workers.
  • We are improving access to safe and reliable drinking water in the remote Northern Territory communities of Yuendumu and Milingimbi.
  • We are delivering the Commonwealth’s $100 million investment for urgent repairs and maintenance to housing and essential infrastructure on Northern Territory Homelands – including Utopia, Paru and Rockhole.
  • 157 houses are on track to be delivered months earlier than anticipated, easing severe overcrowding in remote Northern Territory communities.
  • We are delivering on our landmark justice reinvestment package supporting communities to find local solutions to improve community safety and reduce incarceration rates.
  • Over 14,000 First Nations students have enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE courses.
  • Work is progressing to improve access to renal services in remote communities for people with end stage kidney disease.
  • Applications are open for organisations to expand Indigenous Rangers by up to 1,000 jobs, as part of our plan to double the number of Rangers by 2030.
  • Continuing to support the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to employ 260 new workers in community controlled health organisations to deliver cancer treatments and other supports.

Over the next year, the Albanese Government will strengthen our relationship with the Coalition of the Peaks and work in partnership to design and implement programs that make a difference at the local level.

By backing self-determination and listening to locals and working with communities, we can make progress on Closing the Gap.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“The National Commissioner will be dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children and young people, as well as calling on their strengths, sense of hope, and ideas for change.

“The Commissioner will address the unacceptable rates of out-of-home care. What it all comes down to is strengthening families and keeping children safe.

“It is what experts and the Coalition of the Peaks have been calling for, guided every step of the way by the evidence. We have listened.

“The Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program will deliver real jobs with proper wages and decent conditions, developed in partnership with Indigenous communities. These jobs will build skills and experience, and deliver services that communities want.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said:

“The new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program is about fixing up the mess left by the Liberals failed CDP and putting communities in the driver’s seat to create local jobs and businesses.

“People in remote communities should have access to the benefits and dignity of work – for themselves, their families and the next generation.

“Establishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner is about changing the trajectory and creating brighter futures for Indigenous children and young people.

“The status quo cannot continue and we are committed to making real change, strengthening families and getting better outcomes for Indigenous children and young people.”

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health Malarndirri McCarthy said:

“Our delivery of a proper jobs program in the bush will make a positive difference in the lives of Indigenous Australians and ensure they can fulfil their full potential regardless of where they live.

“As a former participant of a remote jobs program myself, I know all too well the importance that meaningful employment has on economic empowerment, health, happiness, and general wellbeing.

“Building on our significant delivery of better health, housing, education and employment services will help build stronger communities for all Australians and ensure more Indigenous Australians can live longer, healthier and happier lives.

“Every child deserves to live a healthy and happy life, and this is why it is critical we are working hand-in-hand with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, to ensure more kids can achieve their full potential in life.”

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said:

“Improving outcomes for First Nations communities, children and young people requires First Nations-led solutions and a National Commissioner will build on our important work under Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.

“The Commissioner will improve accountability and advocate for systemic change, informed by the voices and experiences of First Nations children and young people.

“Systemic change takes time, and elevating the voices of First Nations children through this Commissioner, will further embed the partnership elements of the Priority Reforms.”

the Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said:

“All Australians have a right to education, training and employment. It is our responsibility to ensure that accessibility and quality is not limited to those living in larger, more developed parts of the country.

“This is an on-the-ground example of our Government’s commitment to ensure no one is left behind and no one is held back.”

the Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said:

“In 2024, access to reliable broadband is a critical part of everyday life. It’s how we stay connected with loved ones, run businesses, and engage with essential services.

“That’s why reliable connectivity is essential to closing the gap.

“These free Wi-Fi services in remote First Nations communities will support communities to get online and experience the transformational benefits of broadband.”

NEGATIVE GEARING, CGT DISCOUNTS IN HELP TO BUY FIRING LINE AS GREENS SAY SYSTEM STACKED AGAINST RENTERS AND FIRST HOME BUYERS

The Greens will demand significant changes to Negative Gearing and the Capital Gains Tax Discount in negotiations on the government’s ‘Help to Buy’ bill currently before the Parliament, saying that Labor’s ‘housing lottery’ will only push up house prices, while failing to help 99.8% of eligible renters and first home buyers.

Labor’s Help to Buy scheme would only support a capped 0.2% of eligible home buyers each year. Economists say that similar schemes have inflated house prices, asking prices have risen 12% since Labor came to power in 2022 and 85% over the last decade according to SQM Research.

To stop pushing up house prices and make homes affordable for first home buyers the Greens say that Labor must limit Negative Gearing and Capital Gains Tax handouts and redirect the saved revenue to public housing  to win the Greens’ support for the scheme.

The Greens will also continue to push for a rent freeze and a cap on rents in the negotiations.

With rents continuing to rise rapidly and rental inflation likely to hit another record this year, the Greens say 2024 will be the year of the renter and that handouts to property investors must be wound back.

Tax handouts for property investors, including negative gearing and CGT discounts will cost the Budget $39b in forgone revenue.

The Help to Buy Bill 2023 will be debated in the House this week, the Senate Economics Legislation Committee inquiry into the bill is due to report on April 16.

Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens said:

“The system is stacked against renters and first home buyers, and Labor’s answer is a housing lottery for a lucky few and higher rents and house prices for everyone else.

“In negotiations with the government over the Help To Buy legislation we’ll push Labor to end the tax handouts for big property investors, freeze rents and build public housing to help renters and first home buyers.”

Max Chandler-Mather, Greens spokesperson for housing and homelessness said:

“You shouldn’t have to win a lottery to have a secure home.

“The rental crisis is breaking people. This hard-to-get scheme will push house prices up for 99.8% of renters and first home buyers and make it even less affordable than it is now.

“The system is stacked against renters and first home buyers. Tax handouts for big property investors, like negative gearing, make it easier for a big property investor to buy their 7th property than for a first home buyer to buy their first home. 

“Pressure works. Labor changed their position on Stage 3 tax cuts and now they need to change their position on negative gearing and capital gains tax.

“Property prices and rents are growing way faster than wages, putting home ownership even further out of reach for millions of people, and we can’t fix this until the government stops handing out billions of dollars in tax concessions to big property investors. 

“We need to make house prices and rents cheaper, and we can do that by freezing rents, phasing out negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts and investing that money in public housing instead.

“The Greens will not stop fighting for renters and if Labor ignores us they will lose at the ballot box.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN WORST SHAPE EVER BECAUSE OF CLIMATE AND HOUSING CRISES

New data from the 2021 Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia report has shown youth mental health at the worst since tracking began — with the prevalence of psychological distress among people under 35 doubling in a decade to nearly 40%.

It might be tempting to attribute this sharp deterioration to the COVID-19 pandemic and young people missing out on many of the formative social experiences older generations had as young adults. 

But these trends started well before the pandemic, and show a generation shaped by constant disappointment with political leaders failing to take meaningful action on the crises they face.

The uptick in loneliness and psychological distress and decline in long-term relationships point to the same root causes — young people feel disconnected, alienated and insecure in their work, relationships and home life. 

The Australian Greens have a fully costed plan to tackle the mental health crisis in Australia by making mental healthcare free and unlimited for everyone who needs it as part of Medicare.

Stephen Bates MP, Australian Greens Youth Spokesperson said:

Young people — and now people well into their careers or older — are stuck in cycles of insecure work, paying too much rent in poor conditions, without enough disposable income to do the fun and formative experiences young people deserve. Then, if you’re lucky enough to escape out, you’re just stuck with a mortgage you can barely pay and facing down the prospect of raising a family you can’t afford. 

We need to meet young people where they are at and talk about the reality they’re facing — a cooked economy, a worsening climate, a housing crisis, piling debt..

Youth mental health won’t be solved with some fancy meditation app or banning phones in schools.

Young people deserve hope for the future — but right now they’re staring down the barrel of a life that’s more expensive, more precarious and ravaged by climate change.

If young people can barely afford a roof over their heads and food on the table, what chance is there for them to have the hundreds of dollars it costs to get a mental health care plan and pay the gap on a therapy session.

Governments at all levels need to start making the hard choices needed to take the cost of living, housing and climate crises seriously. These are all the same crisis. The crisis of capitalism. And either that system breaks, or a whole generation will. 

Prime Minister MIA on Red Sea response

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) have today confirmed that Prime Minister Albanese had no involvement in the decision for Australia to not send a warship to the Red Sea, nor was a National Security Committee of Cabinet meeting called to resolve Australia’s response to the request.

On multiple occasions PM&C deflected questions to the Department of Defence citing they had no oversight of the request made by the United States, stating “It was a decision by the Defence Minister.”

With 12 per cent of the world’s trade passing through the Red Sea this is an embarrassing revelation for Australia to have refused a request of our allies without it even passing the Prime Minister’s desk.

It is both remarkable and negligent that the Albanese Government seemingly couldn’t even be bothered to call a National Security Committee to discuss this request from the United States, especially given the woefully inadequate response provided by the Albanese Government.

PM&C officials confirmed that the Prime Minister’s Office was advised of the request from the US, yet no action was taken or requested by Mr Albanese – his department heard nothing but crickets.

Prime Minister Albanese’s missing in action response to matters of national security are a stark reminder of his inability or unwillingness to stand up Australia’s national interests, including in other matters such as the HMAS Toowoomba incident.

City of Newcastle kicks off multimillion-dollar investment into playgrounds

Construction will begin on the upgrade or replacement of five playgrounds across Newcastle in the coming weeks as part of a $4 million investment into enhanced recreation spaces for the community.

This will include the creation of a new inclusive playspace at Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park, delivering a significant element of City of Newcastle’s (CN) adopted Masterplan for the much-loved precinct.

Work will also begin on the replacement of local playgrounds at Adamstown Park, Rawson Park in Stockton and Waratah’s Coolamin Road Reserve as part of CN’s annual playground renewal program, while Islington Park playground will have its softfall upgraded.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, CN Project Services Manager Patrick Burgess, CN Recreational Projects Officer Ben Barrett, Councillor Carol Duncan and Pedro Angeli from Regal Innovations at Gregson Park

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the projects would deliver enhanced and accessible playspaces for children across the city.

“City of Newcastle is committed to delivering quality playgrounds and green spaces across Newcastle for locals and visitors to enjoy,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The improvements to these playgrounds are designed to consider how users of all abilities can enjoy them.

“They’ll include more accessible features such as carousels, bridges and pathways, with various pieces of equipment that will be suitable for everyone, including those with limited mobility.

“At Gregson Park construction will take place with minimal disruption to the use of the rest of the park, and weather permitting the new playground will be open to the public by October, while the smaller local playgrounds are expected to be completed by the end of May.”

Councillor Carol Duncan, who is also the Chair of the Community and Culture Advisory Committee, said the new playspace at Gregson Park was identified as a high priority action in the Masterplan, which was adopted in 2021.

“This much-loved public asset plays an important role in providing open space and recreation opportunities in Hamilton, as well as respecting the heritage significance of the area,” Cr Duncan said.

“The inclusive playspace will have a native garden, nature play, trampolines, a balance obstacle course, sandpit with sand and water play, and importantly Maddie’s Bench will be retained.

“The existing toilet facilities at Gregson Park will also be upgraded and expanded and will include disabled access.”

Adamstown Park playground

The Adamstown Park playground is being relocated, upgraded and expanded as part of City of Newcastle’s staged implementation of the newly adopted Adamstown Park Masterplan.

An access path from Glebe Road and sheltered picnic tables next to the playground will be included in the finished project.

Rawson Park playground

Rawson Park playground at Stockton and Coolamin Road Reserve playground at Waratah are both being replaced with a new design that complements the current site, with new additions to cater for younger and older children.

The softfall material at Islington Park playground will be replaced to ensure it’s safe for the community to use for years to come.

Seven train stations to be upgraded as part of NSW Government’s $800 million Safe Accessible Transport Plan

The NSW Government is today announcing seven new stations will receive upgrades as part of an $800 million election commitment to accelerate accessibility upgrades at stations across NSW.

Thousands of commuters will benefit from the rollout of the program designed to make public transport safer and more accessible, particularly for vulnerable members of the community.

The 136-year-old Macquarie Fields Station is one of seven new stations in line for an upgrade. The station has never been fully accessible, with the City-bound Platform 1 only accessible via stairs.

More than 10,000 passengers travel through the station every week and the community is home to 2,000 people aged over 60, many of whom have been campaigning for lifts for over 8 years. Their campaign was ignored by the previous NSW Liberal Government who invested in lesser-used stations like Hawkesbury River Station first, which sees only a quarter of the weekly passenger numbers.

Upgrades to Macquarie Fields Station will include a new footbridge with lifts, stairs, a covered walkway to the platforms, a new family accessible toilet, improved lighting and CCTV. There will be six accessible parking spaces, two new accessible drop-off spaces and a relocated bus stop on Railway Parade. Access to the station will be improved with a new pedestrian crossing and signage.

Having completed early stakeholder engagement with vulnerable members of the community, Transport for NSW will undertake targeted stakeholder engagement over the coming months. The community will be invited to have their say on the draft concept design toward the end of the year.

Major construction is expected to begin in late 2024, following the development of planning approval documentation, with work taking around 18 months to complete.

Other stations include:

  • Moss Vale
  • Lewisham
  • Griffith
  • Bardwell Park
  • Chester Hill
  • Queanbeyan

The $800.7 million program is a combination of the old Transport Accessibility Program, the Commuter Carpark Program, and the additional $300 million Labor committed at the 2023 election.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“In 2024, it’s not acceptable that a person in a wheelchair or a parent with a pram can’t access a station in NSW.

“We committed to upgrading train stations to make them more accessible, safe and secure for the people who need them the most, and that is what we are delivering.”

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Macquarie Fields Station dates back to 1888 and has long been in need of a facelift. I’m thrilled that the NSW Government is able to deliver this and give the local community the transport interchange they deserve.”

“We know the community has been advocating for these improvements for a long time and they will soon have the opportunity to have their say on this much-needed project.”

“Transport hubs should be safe and welcoming places for everyone. That’s why the NSW Government is committing $300 million to the new Safe Accessible

Transport Program, to make sure our public transport is as safe and inclusive as possible.”

Disability Inclusion Minister Kate Washington said:

“A big focus for our Government is investing in disability access improvements where they’re urgently needed. The Macquarie Fields community should not have been left with such an inaccessible station for so long. 

“The lifts, accessible parking and toilets will open up new opportunities for people with disability, parents with prams, and anyone with mobility issues.”

“It is fantastic that the majority of the T1 North Shore line is now fully accessible, however the previous Government’s investment should have been fairly spread across the State. 

“We’re now playing an important game of catch-up across the state, but everyone will be all the better for it. 

Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong MP said:

“We have a very diverse community, with many young families and carers with prams, people with disabilities, the elderly, women and girls – to whom this station upgrade is going to mean a world of difference.”

“There will be some disruption during the construction phase, however it’s short-term pain for long-term gain – as we know this upgrade will deliver a safer, more accessible and more inclusive station.”