After years of delay and excuses it looks like there is a possible timetable in sight to start the upgrade of Unanderra Station and building its much-needed lifts.
Wollongong MP, Paul Scully, who has pursued the Berejiklian Government over the building of the lifts like a dog with a bone since he was first elected to Parliament in November 2016, asked the Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance MP, to reveal when community consultations would start for the project.
In encouraging news after years of protests, rallies, petitions and delegations, community consultations look set to start as soon as possible once:
“…project planning has progressed, including preparation of the Review of Environmental Factors scheduled for early 2020.”
This is the first time that the Government has given a timeframe on the possible start of the project.
Once community consultations start after the design and planning works has finished and the Review of Environmental Factors has been published, the start of construction will depend on securing planning approval, finalising the design and awarding the contract to put a shovel in the ground.
By comparison, the same process for Fairy Meadow Station’s upgrade took less than two months to complete.
The Government promised to match NSW Labor’s election commitment to upgrade the Unanderra Station and build the lifts in March 2019.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“After years of delay and plenty of excuses, I am pleased that it looks like community consultations for the upgrade of Unanderra Station and build it much-needed lifts will commence in early 2020.
“This is the first time the Government has put a timeframe around the possible start of the project.
“Community consultations will kick off the upgrade the process, but there is more work to be done to finalise a design, obtain planning approval, and award a contract for works.
“The local community after years and years of hard work, petitions, rallies and protests looks like it has finally achieved a possible start for the upgrade of Unanderra Station and building its much needed lifts.
“I will continue, on behalf of the local community, to hold the Government accountable for keeping its election promise.”
