Community Cabinet comes to Maitland:
GEORGE GOULDER’S PLEA TO POLLIES: Don’t close my schoolMADDY COUTTS FIGHTS AGAIN: She’s fighting for Martins Creek
HERE COMES SARAH ADNUM: Back into battle
FINGERS CROSSED FOR MONEY: Will the Premier cough up? DEAR MR PREMIER: Here’s our wishlist say our super six
The last time the regional state cabinet meeting came to town Sarah Adnum was the hero.
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With mother Diane as her advocate, Sarah pleaded with the state government for better safety at Martins Creek railway station.
Sarah, who has multiple disabilities, was victorious and now, almost eight years on, has reprised her role.
This time Sarah, 33, is calling for our politicians to save the rail line.
“This rail line is so important for my independence. I’ll never be able to drive a car so this is the only way I can get around and lead a relatively independent life,” she said.
Plans are on the agenda for the NSW government to replace the train line from Wickham with a light rail line that would operate from a transport hub at Wickham station. Light rail would take commuters either along the existing rail corridor and Scott Street to Pacific Park, near Newcastle beach, or along Hunter Street Mall to the same destination.
Sarah, of Martins Creek, was left with a brain disorder and constant tremor following a car accident almost 25 years ago.
“If this rail line is changed in anyway it would be really difficult for Sarah. If she can’t catch the train all the way into Newcastle then she just won’t go there and a young woman like Sarah should be able to get out there and enjoy her life,” Diane Adnum said.
“A decision like this might be made by the majority but it will be felt hardest by the minority.”
Greens Transport spokeswoman Dr Mehreen Faruqi caught the train from Wickham railway
station to Maitland and back again on Friday to speak with residents about the proposal.
Dr Faruqi said the transition from heavy rail to light rail at the proposed Wickham transport hub would be detrimental to commuters who wanted to travel to work, appointments or leisure activities in the heart of Newcastle.
“What the world is going towards is integrated transport systems,” she said. “How they [heavy and light rail] match up in terms of frequency and times and whether a train comes from Maitland and then has a direct connection to the light rail, those are all going to be important issues.
“I think spending millions cutting back the train line is not an efficient way to spend money. The basics of good, efficient transport is to make life easier for commuters and this is not going to make life easier for people in this community.”
