On 29 April 2019, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll announced the ‘go-ahead’ for the Flinders Link project. Now it’s time for a new neighbourhood campaign to influence where the stations are going to be along the Tonsley rail line.

The Flinders Link project stated that locations of stations were beyond its scope even though it includes the demolition of one of those stations – the existing Tonsley Railway Station at Lynton Avenue, Mitchell Park and Birch Crescent, Tonsley.

While it might seem that we have lost our station, the battle is not over! In fact, we have plenty to be pleased about:

1. The Community Response

THANK YOU to everyone who has volunteered time and energy to:

• sign the petition (either online or on paper),
• collect signatures,
• add comments to the petition – they were submitted to members of parliament and the planning commission,
• spread the word around the community,
• engage local members of council, parliament, opposition candidates and the media, with letters, phone calls and information,
• initiate the Tonsley Station Friends Facebook page and share its information
• participate in online discussion,
• complete surveys,
• attend community meetings and forums,
• provide feedback to Adelaide Metro, the Flinders Link Project Team, DPTI and the Cities of Marion and Mitcham,
• make submissions to the State Commission Assessment Panel (State Planning Commission) and attend hearings,
• create and distribute leaflets and cards; and
• share your stories as to why the Tonsley station and access to its rail line is vitally important to you.

All of these combined actions have made a huge difference.

THANK YOU!

These valuable activities tell the decision-makers loud and clear what our communities need.

We need a new railway station to provide social justice for the southern sections of Mitchell Park and Tonsley so people are not isolated in their homes and stranded in their suburban streets. We need equitable access to education and employment opportunities, health services, shopping and sporting amenities, social contact and cultural activities.

With unreliable bus services that are too dangerous for many frail and disabled people, the train is the only safe, affordable means of independent travel and the preferred mode of public transport. The productivity commission wants more people, particularly disabled people, to work and participate in society but how do we do that without accessible transport?  It seems ridiculously uneconomical to have a rail line running through a suburb without the means for its residents to access it.

2. Petition Goals

The original petition goal was “postpone the Flinders Link project until there is funding to keep Tonsley Railway Station in its current position and properly integrate Flinders Link with the local community.”

On 3 June 2017, the status of the Flinders Link project was “Underway” with expected start and finish dates as “Mid 2017 – Late 2018.”

By 1 March 2018 the status had changed to “In planning” with start / finish dates as “Mid 2018 – Mid 2019.”

Today (15 May 2019), the most recent Flinders Link project page, last updated on 19 December 2018, has a status of “In planning” with start / finish dates of “Early 2019 – Mid 2020.”

(Source: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities: https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=062838-15SA-NP )

The designers have changed aspects of the Flinders Link design based on neighbourhood concerns about integration of the rail line with the community and disability access; e.g., an underpass to replace the existing pedestrian crossover at Lynton Avenue (the original design had no way of crossing the track between Lynton Ave and Birch Cr, effectively segregating the community and blocking neighbourhood access); and a safer ramp design to access the shared path on the viaduct.

The postponement goal was met and we have had some influence on the integration of the infrastructure thanks to your voice.

3. A Chance for Better Integration and Access

It’s time to get together again for more community action to get a replacement railway station to serve Tonsley South, Mitchell Park South and Sturt Triangle / Warriparinga. It will take a big team effort. 
Do you want to be involved?

Please respond with a comment here on the petition page or email savetonsleystation@gmail.com

If we can’t have a station at the existing location, consider these questions:

• Where’s the best place for a replacement Tonsley station?
• If Clovelly Park and Tonsley stations need to merge, where would you locate a merged station?
• What are your ideas for other stations along the line? Should they be relocated also?
• What about pathways to reach a new station?

The Tonsley Station Friends Facebook page also offers a discussion forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/438999896555463/

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT!