Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully used his first Private Members Statement in the 57th Parliament this evening to call on the Berejiklian Government to deliver on its promise to finally build the Unanderra lifts by allocating funds in the June budget and having them operational by June 2020.
The Government promised during the March election campaign that it would build the lifts but has not yet provided a timetable on their construction.
Mr Scully highlighted that the people of Unanderra and surrounding suburbs had campaigned for nearly a decade to have the Berejiklian Government recognise that the lifts were needed at Unanderra Station, including delegations to meet Ministers, public rallies and a community walk.
The Premier – who was the Transport Minister in 2011 – took away the funding allocated by the previous Labor Government and refused to return it.
Mr Scully told Parliament he predicted the consultation process for the lifts could be speedy because the community wanted the lifts built as quickly as possible and the design work had already been completed in 2012. The very least the Government can do after nearly a decade of excuses id to fast-track the project.
He said it was important that local companies are given priority in the tendering process and local workers and apprentices are tasked with construction.
Mr Scully also raised the need for an upgrade to the Wollongong Entertainment Centre (WEC) and relocating government departments and agencies to Wollongong.
He also told Parliament the Government need to review the current eligibility criteria for sport funding programs, which currently excluded the Wollongong Local Government Area from applying for grants.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“My very first Private Members Statement after I was first elected was on the need to build the lifts at Unanderra Station.
“My first Private Members Statement in this new Parliamentary term is again on the need to finally build the lifts at Unanderra Station.
“The Berejiklian Government promised during the election that it would allocate $20 million to final build the Unanderra Station lifts.
“If you make a promise, you must stick to it: I want to see the promised funds in the budget in June and for the lifts to be up and running by June 2020.
“The Government also needs to upgrade Wollongong Entertainment Centre and relocate government departments and agencies to the third largest city in New South Wales.
“It’s time the Berejiklian Government gave Wollongong a fair go.”
