Beresfield and Woodberry public schools contributed ideas for a design that was applied to the stairs that lead to the platform.

“Everyone from the school had to draw something they thought would relate to the community,” Beresfield’s vice-captain Daniel Hunt said.

Beresfield school’s animal-inspired design adorns the steps on the southern side of the platform and Woodberry students designed a rainbow serpent.

Mikaylah Willcocks, who is in year 6 at Woodberry, said her classmates consulted some books for the project.

The rainbow serpent is a symbol that Aboriginal people from inland and coastal areas share. 

“I think the community will like it,” Mikaylah said.

The project was ­completed as a partnership between NSW TrainLink, Sydney Trains, Street Art Walking and Newcastle City Council which provided a $2000 grant through the Make Your Place program.

Station manager Chris Smith developed the idea to restore a sense of pride for the station in the community. 

“Beresfield Station was attacked with graffiti and other acts of vandalism twice a week,” Mr Smith said. 

“We have received a lot of positive feedback from customers and we’ve noticed a reduction in vandalism at the station.”

Street Art Walking involved select students from Rutherford High School in the project, who interpreted a stack of drawings thicker than a phone book and applied them to the steps in the last school holidays.

Newcastle councillor Jason Dunn represented Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at the opening yesterday.

“It’s great to see positive outcomes in Beresfield and the greater ward 4 area,” he said.

“It’s great to see council and community working together.”