Demanding that Inland Rail reconsider plans not to introduce an elevator at Mothers Bridge are (from left) Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr, Member for Albury Justin Clancy, Regional Disability Advocacy Service’s Ben Foley and Shane Moreland, with Ellie Freemantle. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Many Wagga locals have been calling for an elevator to be installed at Mothers Bridge on Railway Street and at the Wagga train station for years.
The so-called nation-building project Inland Rail is set to destroy the bridge and rebuild it. Therefore, Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr hoped an elevator would be included in the new plans.
Unfortunately, for many people with mobility issues in the city, it was not.
Now, less than three months until Inland Rail’s works on both the Mothers and Edmondson Street bridges are set to begin, Dr McGirr and the Member for Albury Justin Clancy are calling for a change to be made.
Dr McGirr said: “We’re here today to make a point to Inland Rail about the need to do better with this Mothers Bridge here. We need better accessibility for people with special difficulties in our community, and that means a lift.
“Inland Rail has steadfastly refused to put a lift into the design of the bridges.
“They’ve got DDA (Disability Discrimination Act)-compliant designs with long, long ramps, but what we’re hearing from the disability community is that that’s not good enough.”
Joining Dr McGirr and Mr Clancy in opposing the Inland Rail plans were Regional Disability Advocacy Service executive officer Ben Foley and local resident and frequent user of the bridge, Barry Williams.
Mr Foley said while the current plans for Mothers Bridge passed DDA compliance, they did not pass the pub test.
“We already know that Inland Rail is a nation-building building project, but it’s a little uncanny to think that a nation-building project in 2025 has to have a debate over accessibility measures,” he said.
“We know that the long zigzagging ramps, while they do satisfy the DDA, unfortunately, they’re not going to pass the pub test, whether it’s a person with disability, a manual wheelchair, a motorised wheelchair, or parents with prams.”
Plans showing an elevated new Mothers Bridge accommodating double-stacked freight trains while allowing residents to walk from Railway Street to Wagga train station. Image: Inland Rail.
Mr Williams said: “I’m fortunate now that I do use a mobility scooter, but in the past, I’ve struggled over there with my walker. I find it quite difficult at the moment.
“I believe this new bridge is going to be quite a bit longer, and there’s no way I could manage to take the shortcut and go down any stairs.
“Inland Rail said they have met with residents about the way the bridge will work, but I’ve definitely not had any direct conversation with them and they have definitely not mentioned how the bridge is going to support people with difficulties moving.”
Inland Rail has since responded to the claims by Dr McGirr, Mr Clancy and Mr Foley, saying the new plans complied with DDA standards while the current state of Mothers Bridge did not.
“Inland Rail will be replacing Edmondson Street bridge, Wagga Wagga Station footbridge – also known as Mothers Bridge – and Cassidy Parade footbridge as part of the Albury to Illabo enhancement works to provide clearance for the use of double-stacked freight trains,” an Inland Rail spokesperson said.
“These new bridges have been designed in collaboration with the NSW Government and Wagga Wagga City Council, and their pedestrian access features meet the requirements of the Federal Government’s 1992 Disability Discrimination Act.
“This federal legislation sets access standards that all modern pedestrian bridges in Australia must meet.
“The bridges have also been reviewed by the NSW State Design Review Panel, a group of built-environment design experts who provide independent evaluation and advice on the design quality of projects.
“These two footbridges are owned by Wagga Wagga City Council, and they do not currently meet the requirements of the 1992 Disability Discrimination Act.”
