High Cross Park Common Sense Prevails

By Marcus Braid on November 5, 2015 in News

Buses have stopped running along George Street and construction has begun for the South East Light Rail network, but High Cross Park in Randwick is no longer a part of the plan.

After concerted lobbying from Randwick Council and its constituents, Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced the relocation of the proposed Randwick light rail terminal from High Cross Park into to a new High Street plaza.

The decision effectively saves High Cross Park and creates a light rail stop closer to the Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital.

“This is an excellent decision by the NSW Government and they are to be commended,” former Randwick Mayor Ted Seng said.

“Importantly, the change provides an opportunity to create a new public transport and pedestrian plaza at the intersection of High, Avoca and Belmore Streets integrated with the Randwick town centre.”

The amendment to the NSW Government’s $2.1 billion CBD and South East Light Rail project will protect High Cross Park and its ninety90-year-old war memorial, save trees, reduce parking loss and reduce construction costs.

Randwick Labor Councillor Tony Bowen said the call to save High Cross Park was unquestionably a good decision, but more work needs to be done.

“It’s a good decision, but it should have never got to this point,” he said. “We’ve been advocating from day one that it should not have gone through that historic park.

“It doesn’t resolve some major problems with the proposal in Randwick, because all traffic from east to west will have to go down Barker Street, which is a tiny little street that’s already choked.

“Because of its proximity to the school and hospital, “It’s going to become even more choked now that the State Government has approved the rezoning of the Inglis (Stables) site.”

The Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital – both in the heart of Randwick’s town centre – are expected to experience effects owing from to the construction work that has now kicked off.

“The medical fraternity has some very deep misgivings about light rail in High Street, and affecting traffic flow there,” Cr Bowen said. “While it’s good that the park is saved, there’s a lot more that needs to be done to get it fixed for Randwick.

“The hospital has a huge number of people coming and going every day, so to move the stop closer to the hospital is a good thing. But we’ve also got to think about our residents who want to get around the city, and of course our residents are going to use light rail.

“I’ve always advocated that there needed to be a broader examination of where it would come to terminate at Randwick.”

Buses stopped running along George Street for the first time since 1867 on October 3, as bus travel paves the way for the twelve12-kilometre light rail line, which is expected to be completed by April 2018.

“I hope they have done their homework on this, but I’ve got to tell you I’m concerned because it is a huge project,” Cr Bowen said. “We’ve already seen that bus services have been cut from the south-eastern part of Randwick. I think we’ll know more in a few days.”