Last Wednesday, FIVEaa listeners may have heard Tonsley Railway Station mentioned during breakfast. I was kindly invited to speak about the latest press release by the Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan (dated 22 February 2018). I will share the one that I was given to me at the end of this petition update for your reference. ( Remember to check for petition updates regularly, the previous update (27 Feb) is here: https://www.change.org/p/sa-minister-for-transport-save-tonsley-station-save-our-access-to-public-transport/u/22439013 ) For those of you who missed the item and for those of you with hearing impairments, here is a transcript of the on-air conversation. I did not get the chance to thank the FIVEaa Breakfast team on air but they have received my thanks off air and have given permission to reproduce a transcript of the segment here. LINKS TO AUDIO ETC. Breakfast program podcast published on Acast website: https://www.acast.com/david-will/davidandwillpodcast-28feb2018 Breakfast program web page: https://www.fiveaa.com.au/fiveaa/shows/breakfast/david-penberthy-and-will-goodings Podcasts available from home page: https://www.fiveaa.com.au/fiveaa TRANSCRIPT: 5AA BREAKFAST 28 FEBRUARY 2018 DAVID PENBERTHY & WILL GOODINGS WITH JODIE PEARCE Interview by David Penberthy & Will Goodings, broadcast in Adelaide on 5AA Breakfast program, 8:10 a.m. Wednesday 28 February 2018. Total duration of podcast: 1:14’50”. Segment duration: 5’35” . Cue segment at 54’33” into podcast. TONSLEY STATION SEGMENT [cue 54’33”] David Penberthy (DP): This is a good news story and it’s something that we’re involved in here on FIVEaa. The Tonsley railway station which is only a stone’s throw from where I grew up. It was the train line I used all the time when I was catching the train into town as a lad from Mitchell Park. It was earmarked for closure and this was going to be particularly difficult for the predominantly Housing Trust area down towards Clovelly Park which has been dealt a pretty rough hand over the past last few years by this State Government with the contamination scandal and the shameful manner in which that was initially handled by our good friend Ian Hunter. Well, the Tonsley station which is used by a lot of people who don’t have a hell of a lot of dough; it is used by a lot of people who live with disabilities as well. It became the focus for a grass roots campaign led by local, Jodie Pearce, Save Tonsley Station. We’re happy to report, Jodie, that you did it! You saved Tonsley station. Well done! JP: Well, I’m afraid I’m going to have to dampen that party; I’m sorry to dash your hopes but I think the State Government announcement that they saved Tonsley station is really an announcement that they’re replacing Clovelly Park station. Then they’re choosing to rename it as Tonsley. People think of Tonsley, they think of the Tonsley Innovation Precinct but the existing Tonsley station is further south and it serves the southern half of Mitchell Park. It is south of the Mitsubishi site and where the contamination scare was in the Tonsley area there and near the Darlington works. DP: But, hang on, Jodie, I was under the complete impression from what the State Government had said, was that they were going to do exactly what you and the local community were asking for? JP: No, they haven’t. Basically, what they’ve done is they’ve got a plan to rebuild Clovelly Station across the road so that the station will still be located at Alawoona Ave and locals are saying that “we can’t get there. “ It’s physically impossible for a lot of people in the southern area. DP: So what’s happening to the station down towards Sturt Rd? JP: At Sturt Road, they’re going to have a bridge – the Flinders Link bridge – to take the rail over to Flinders Medical Centre which is a fantastic thing –we all want to be able to have rail access to Flinders. We think it’ll be a brilliant thing, but not at the expense of the locals who will have a train line running straight through there and then we won’t be able to get there. There are engineering practicalities about putting a station on an incline and we all get that; but we’re asking the State Government to put a new combined Clovelly and Tonsley station halfway between where the existing ones are. So that would probably be between 100 and 200 metres south of the new Clovelly that they’re wanting to build – the new Clovelly-come-renamed Tonsley. DP: Jodie, when we first spoke, you made the case for the elderly and the disabled people in the area that relied on that station and the difficulty they were going to face if it was removed. Where are they now, where are they left under this new plan? JP: With the plan as it is, for example in my case, I won’t be able to catch the train at all which means I won’t be able to access public transport. There are a lot of people whose wheelchairs won’t fit on the wheelchair accessible buses or their health condition means that they can’t tolerate the jerky motion of the bus. Trams and trains are fantastic because they are smooth and predictable so we can ride them easily; but with the bus we have to hang on; there’s no way to secure your wheelchair to the vehicle like you can with private cars so it’s a bit of a problem and taxis are very, very expensive. DP: Well, given that you’re unsatisfied with what the government’s proposing, Jodie, have you had any chance to have a discussion with the Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan about it because I’ve got the press release right here in my hands where him and the Labor Member for Elder Annabel Digance, she’s clearly trying to whip it up as a feather in her cap that this has happened, but if you and the locals are still unhappy, you should be able to convey your sentiments to him given that they appear to have done the wrong thing. JP: Definitely! Look, I’m prepare-..I’ve got the petitions all bundled up ready to go to the Minister, the delay in that is just my own health being able to have a time where I can sit down long enough to compose the letter and because of the complexities of the issues here, it’s not going to be a simple letter. I’m finding that rather difficult at the moment just because of my health which is why I forwarded the petitions to Annabel Digance. She’s our local member. We rely on her to try and represent us to the Minister. That’s her job. I would love to sit down and speak with Mr Mullighan face-to-face in person and have an hour’s chat with him. I know he’s a busy man but I think the complexities here demand that. DP: for sure. We had him on our show JP: I’m really happy the conversation has started at least with all sides of government which is great. DP: Yeah. We had him on our show yesterday and we talk to him all the time so we can have a chat to him off air and see if we can get him in to take a bit of time out of his undoubtedly crowded diary to have a look at this one because it doesn’t sound like they’ve got it quite right. [Back announcement] Jodie Pearce from Save Tonsley Station, Thanks for coming on and thanks for correcting my somewhat overly triumphal intro to our little chat there because it sounds like there’s more to be done. JP: Oh, I wish it were true, I really do because that’s what we need; but, you know, what’s a hundred metres down the road for a community, that will give ALL the community access and not just those people who are coming from Flinders Medical Centre. DP: yeah, no, good on you Will Goodings (WG): Thank you for that Jodie, Jodie Pearce, heading the campaign to save Tonsley station DP: The moral of that story: never believe the heading on a government press release! WG: That’s right! END OF SEGMENT [ cue 1:00’08”] PRESS RELEASE The following is a reproduction of a printed Labor Press Release by Hon Stephen Mullighan MP, Thursday 22 February 2018, which was given to me personally by the Annabel Digance, Member for Elder. With this Press Release, Annabel Digance MP was giving out a diagram of the new station, positioned next to Alawoona Avenue, which I will post in a separate update (partly because I cannot post more than one picture at a time on these updates and partly because the information deserves an update of its own). If you would like a copy of the diagram before the next update, please email savetonsleystation@gmail.com or contact Annabel Digance MP because she was distributing it (contact details on main petition page). I have not been able to find the printed diagram online even though it is issued by the South Australian Government Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. SA LABOR MEDIA RELEASE: HON STEPHEN MULLIGHAN MP - NEW TRAIN STATION FOR TONSLEY RAIL LINE Tonsley line passengers are set for improved facilities under Labor with a new station to be built as part of the Flinders Link project. A re-elected Labor Government will invest $11 million to build a brand new train station located between the current Clovelly Park and Tonsley stations, south of Alawoona Avenue. The Clovelly Park and Tonsley stations, which will make way for the new station, are old and run down, and many aspects of the stations are non-compliant. The stations lack proper disability access, shelter, lighting and security features that one would expect for a modern electrified train line. The new Tonsley Station will be modern, fully accessible and located adjacent to the 600 space Park 'n' Ride and will include; - the latest CCTV technology - improved lighting - longer and wider platform - new and improved station shelters - way-finding tactiles (DDA compliant edging tiles) - improved access - including DDA compliant access ramps - new fencing - new passenger information systems A new shared use/greenway path will connect residents from Mitchell Park and Clovelly Park to the new Tonsley station. The path will be located on eastern side of the Tonsley line and wil include a pedestrian crossing under the elevated rail line near the existing Tonsley Station. There will also be an at-grade pedestrian crossing near Alawoona Avenue to assist crossing from east to west and to access the correct platform. This investment will support 29 jobs and improve commuter comfort and convenience, while providing enhanced public safety, security and general amenity for those using the Tonsley line. Background The Flinders Link Project will extend the existingTonsley rail line by 620 metres, via a rail overpass, terminating at at new station next to the Flinders Medical Centre. It will involve the construction of a 520-metre rail bridge extending over Sturt and South roads to a new train station to be built at the northern end of the medical centre. Unfortunately as part of the project, the current Tonsley Station which is run down, needs to be removed to accommodate the new elevated track being built as part of the project. Quotes attributable to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan Extending the Tonsley rail line will be a huge win for southern suburbs commuters, as well as the hundreds of thousands of workers, patients, students and visitors who attend the Flinders Medical Centre precinct and the Flinders University every year. Building a new station in between the existing Clovelly Park and Tonsley stations will provide improved facilities and improved access for residents and those using the 600 space Park 'n' Ride facility. Once the Tonsley rail line extension to the Flinders precinct is complete, we will be increasing peak-hour services to a 20-minute frequency. These are the changes that passengers want to see - modern stations, more frequent services and quicker, more comfortable journeys. Collectively, these initiatives will significantly improve connectivity between the CBD, Tonsley and the Flinders Medical and University precinct. Quotes attributable to Labor Member for Elder Annabel Digance A number of years ago I campaigned hard with local residents against the Federal Liberal cuts to the upgrade of the Tonsley line. So it is pleasing to see that Labor is stepping in to extend and improve the Tonsley line and deliver more frequent services. This new station and extension of the line will mean improved facilities and a better service connecting residents with both the city and Flinders Medical Centre. I know many people living near the Tonsley Station had concerns it had to be moved as a result of the extension to Flinders. I've talked with many local people who said they understood the need to move it, but were eager to find a solution that would improve access for the community. A new modern and accessible station located in between the old Clovelly and Tonsley stations with improved connectivity for all residents is a win. It will be a massive improvement on the current facilities, it will be safer, more accessible and provide better access to the Park 'n' Ride facility. I will ensure the local community is kept well-informed of the project's progress as we move through the planning, design and construction phases. I will be in contact with local residents and encourage anyone who needs more information to contact me. END OF PRESS RELEASE