Moved by Councillor
Miller, seconded by Councillor Kok –
It is resolved
that:
(A)
Council
note:
(i)
in June
2024, Council adopted A City for Walking: Strategy and Action Plan - Continuing
the Vision, which states that to create a city for walking, fundamental needs
should be met including making it possible to walk safely with basic
infrastructure such as lighting;
(ii)
Friends
of Erskineville (FOE) have launched their ‘Light Up the Bridge’ campaign to
address pedestrian safety concerns and advocate for pedestrian lighting to be
installed on Erskineville Road rail bridge (the bridge), located between Linthorpe and Angel Streets in Erskineville;
(iii)
the
campaign includes a petition that has 590 signatories (as at
24 October 2024) calling on Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
to immediately install adequate lighting as a public safety measure;
(iv)
the
bridge is owned by Transport for NSW and therefore any associated lighting
attached to the bridge would become Transport for NSW assets;
(v)
City
staff have investigated installing lighting on the footpath at each end of the
bridge. However, due to the length of the bridge, it is not viable to provide
compliant lighting without placing lighting on the bridge itself;
(vi)
Friends
of Erskineville is calling on the Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, to
instruct Transport for NSW to urgently address this safety issue before an
injury occurs as it is an area of high pedestrian activity;
(vii)
City
staff have advocated to Transport for NSW who said they are aware of the
situation and the collective interest in improving the lighting across the
bridge; and
(viii)
in a
letter to Friends of Erskineville, Transport for NSW notes that they are aware
the bridge does not meet community expectations, are working with City of
Sydney and Ausgrid (electricity supplier) on the issue and will update the
community with the outcomes of its investigations once a solution is
determined; and
(B)
the
Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Minister for Transport advocating
for the immediate installation of pedestrian lighting on the Erskineville Road
rail bridge.
Carried
unanimously.
X113761