When
Where
Why
There are no accessible stops between Brunswick Road and Bakers Road, Coburg North - a 5.5km stretch. Once the Upfield train line is closed for the construction of the Sky Rail, expected to start sometime in 2026-27, there will be NO accessible public transport along the Upfield corridor, a high-density population area, for at least 18 months.
We call on the community and the government to guarantee the completion of accessible tram stops on Sydney Road before construction of the Sky Rail begins.
- Make Sydney Road accessible for all
- No steps to board the tram
- Launch of Transport Equity Week
Meet at corner of Sydney Rd and Wilson Ave, Brunswick VIC (6 Wilson Avenue, Brunswick). The location is opposite Barkly Square Shopping Centre and on the same street as Jewell Station on the Upfield Train Line.
Campaign initiated by Christian Astourian. Organised by Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops Now campaign. For information, contact: satsnow0@gmail.com or Sue on 0413 377 978.
Campaign signatories
Individuals
- Christian Astourian, (Disability Rights Advocate; Board Member of the Victorian Government Disability Services Board and initiator of Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops Now campaign)
- Frank Hall-Bentick (Disability Rights Advocate, OA)
- Emilio Savle, (Disabled Motorists Association
- Graeme Innes (AM, previous Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner)
- Rocca Salceda (Disability Rights Advocate)
- Stephanie Gotlib (Disability Advocate)
- Dinesh Wadiwel (University of Sydney, Associate Professor in human rights and socio-legal studies)
- Bramble Heinrich-McPartlan (chair of Merri-bek Disability Reference Group & ambulant wheelchair user)
- Dr Tim Read, State MP for Brunswick
- Peter Khalil, Federal MP for Wills
- Angelica Panopoulos (Mayor of Merri-bek)
- Sue Bolton (Merri-bek Councillor)
- Monica Harte (Merri-bek Councillor)
- Lambros Tapinos (Merri-bek Councillor)
- James Conlan (Merri-bek Councillor)
- Joe Caputo (Brunswick Mayor 2007-2008, Board member of the ECCV)
- Elyse Cunningham (Sustainable Cities coordinator, Friends of the Earth)
- Susanne Newton, Darebin Deputy Mayor and Metropolitan Transport Forum Ambassador for Trams
- Natalie Wade (Equality Lawyers)
- Helen Dickinson, (Professor, Director of Public Service Research Group, School of Business, UNSW)
- Christina Ryan (Director, Disability Leadership Group)
- Dr John Stone (transport and Urban planning, Faculty of Architecture, University of Melbourne)
Organisations
- Disability Resource Centre (DRC)
- People with Disabilities Australia
- Inclusive Rainbow Voices (LGBTIQA+ people with disabilities)
- Post Polio Victoria
- Equality Lawyers
- Public Transport Users Association
- Victorian Transport Action Group
- Rail Futures
- Transport for Everyone
- Victoria Walks
- Health and Community Services Union (HACSU)
- Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA)
- Australian Services Union
- Friends of the Earth Melbourne
- Walk on Merri-bek (pedestrian advocacy group)
- Merri-bek Bicycle Users Group
- Brunswick Residents Network
- Brunswick Neighbourhood House
- Reynard Street Neighbourhood House
- 3CR Community Radio