Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER council has sent the Barnett government a 10-point wishlist from ratepayers wanting the aging Baysy train station tarted up.

But despite sinking the station being punters’ top priority, it’s off the table for now.

The station will soon become a gateway to the city for passengers coming from the airport along the new Forrestfield-Airport link.

As part of that project the council’s angling for a spruce-up of the station and put out a survey asking for locals’ views.

After “undergrounding”, which got 81 mentions, new buildings providing shelter, seats and toilets were the next priority.

Transport minister Dean Nalder recently told deputy mayor Stephanie Coates that future upgrades wouldn’t be considered until after the railway was opened, which is expected in 2020.

Given that as a distant opportunity, the council will keep a potential sinking in mind when putting together its town centre structure plan.

Other wishlist priorities include better pedestrian access, bike storage, more car parking, and altering the nearby rail bridge since boneheads routinely ignore warning signs and try to plow through with their tall vans and lorries.

Meanwhile Labor candidate for federal Perth Tim Hammond says if a Shorten government is elected this weekend it’ll pledge $1 million for a structure plan to sink Bayswater station.

”A major part of the study will look at removing this underpass which has claimed its latest victim,” he said, posting a picture of a van advertising Liberal Cowan candidate Luke Simpkins firmly wedged under the bridge.

by DAVID BELL