Vision Australia supports and endorses the ARG response that timely and reliable assistance from platform staff will only be possible at stations that have platform staff in attendance. Many platforms and stations are unstaffed for much of the day. There is no guarantee of funding for the extra platform staff that would be needed during operational hours to ensure reliable boarding and alighting over the 30 year service life of the NGR. Lack of consultation at the design and procurement stage of the NGR project has led to a situation where there are now safety concerns for people who are blind or have low vision attempting to access the NGR trains. People who are blind or have low vision often feel more vulnerable when using public transport, and the knowledge that they are not readily seen or assisted by the guard will increase these feelings of vulnerability, especially at those stations where, and at times when, platform assistance is not available. Financial or other hardship which will be incurred if the exemptions are not granted Vision Australia supports and endorses the response of the ARG in rejecting the Applicants claim of financial hardship. If consultation with the disability sector had been undertaken at the design and procurement stage of the NGR project, the Applicant would not now face the costs associated with retro-fitting NGR trains to achieve compliance. Rejection of the application Vision Australia fully supports and endorses the ARG submission that for many reasons, temporary exemptions from the DDA/DSAPT are not watt anted, and asks that the AHRC refuse to grant the application.
Vision Australia supports and endorses the ARG response that timely and reliable assistance from platform staff will only be possible at stations that have platform staff in attendance. Many platforms and stations are unstaffed for much of the day. There is no guarantee of funding for the extra platform staff that would be needed during operational hours to ensure reliable boarding and alighting over the 30 year service life of the NGR. Lack of consultation at the design and procurement stage of the NGR project has led to a situation where there are now safety concerns for people who are blind or have low vision attempting to access the NGR trains. People who are blind or have low vision often feel more vulnerable when using public transport, and the knowledge that they are not readily seen or assisted by the guard will increase these feelings of vulnerability, especially at those stations where, and at times when, platform assistance is not available. Financial or other hardship which will be incurred if the exemptions are not granted Vision Australia supports and endorses the response of the ARG in rejecting the Applicants claim of financial hardship. If consultation with the disability sector had been undertaken at the design and procurement stage of the NGR project, the Applicant would not now face the costs associated with retro-fitting NGR trains to achieve compliance. Rejection of the application Vision Australia fully supports and endorses the ARG submission that for many reasons, temporary exemptions from the DDA/DSAPT are not watt anted, and asks that the AHRC refuse to grant the application.
VA%20submission%20on%20QR%20Application%20for%20Temporary%20Exemptions%20%209%20January%202018.docx