State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has spoken in the NSW Parliament about the importance of the Beresfield Driver Reviver station at the end of the M1 Motorway.
The Driver Reviver station, which has been based at the roundabout at the end of the M1 at Beresfield for almost 30 years, is to be closed as Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) needs the land occupied by the station to replace the roundabout with traffic lights.
Public reactions to the planned closure were reported before Christmas and an online poll indicated that more than 85% of respondents wanted the Driver Reviver station to remain open.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“Christmas is a time for being with the people we love and for many in our community that means travelling vast distances, often in a very short amount of time. For these people, Driver Reviver stations are absolutely crucial, a chance to have a break from the road, grab a cup of coffee, walk around and get the blood flowing again.”
“The Lions Club provide the service 24 hours a day for 60 days a year during peak travel times. It’s amazing the number of people who stop there that rely on the service. Some people who now use the station used to stop there with their parents as they travelled through as kids.”
“The changes to the M1 mean the roundabout will be replaced with traffic lights and broadened to five lanes which will require the removal of the Driver Reviver station from its current site.”
“I understand that the Lions Club is still in discussions with RMS to relocate the site, and I am urging the RMS to do everything necessary to find a new home for the Beresfield Driver Reviver.”
“I was heartened that the Parliamentary Secretary for Roads rose to speak after me in Parliament yesterday and made mention that every year he took his Christmas holidays at Port Macquarie and is well aware of the Beresfield Driver Reviver station. He has offered to speak to the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight about the importance of finding a new site and I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for this.”
“I applaud the Lions for their efforts in running the Beresfield Driver Reviver station. I enjoyed my time there, meeting new and interesting people who just needed a break and couldn’t stomach the thought of stopping at another fast food joint.”
I truly hope RMS can help the Lions find a satisfactory new home for the Driver Reviver, it’s too important for the motorists to let fall by the wayside.”