New information revealed through a Freedom of Information request confirms that it is politics first and people last when it comes to deciding disabled access upgrades for train stations in New South Wales.

After Unanderra Station was once again left off the list of upgrades in this year’s Budget, Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully MP, submitted a Freedom of Information request to find out why.

The information released confirms that factual prioritisation was thrown out by a Government more interested in its political needs than the needs of people wanting to travel on public transport.

The information released reveals that:

• In the October 2016 ranking of the Inter City network, when compared to the Leura and Glenbrook stations, Unanderra station:
  • Ranked higher at 11 than Leura (14) and Glenbrook (16)
  • Had the highest overall assessment score
  • Scored highest on expected patronage growth
  • Had a higher average number of weekend services
  • Scored higher on centre and education demand growth generators
  • Scored higher on demographic measures including mobility permits, people with a disability young than 60 years of age and children under the age of 5
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• In the “Easy Access Update Prioritisation”, when compared to Como, Glenbrook and Leura stations, Unanderra station:
  • Scored highest on the overall ranking
  • Was furthest from the nearest accessible station – up to double that of the other stations
  • Is the only station more than 5km from the nearest accessible station
  • Had a distance score double that of the other stations
  • Ranked equal to or higher than other stations on demographic measures including medical access, disability, aged over 70 years and children under 5 years of age

• Comparing the patronage numbers between 2010 and 2012 (later figures were not revealed), Unanderra’s barrier count had increased by 140 to 1060 while Como had only grown by 80 and Glenbrook had declined by 100

Transport for NSW assessors last visited Unanderra Station 1 May 2017 as part of the station assessment process.

Comments to be attributed to Paul Scully:

“This confirms that the latest round of access upgrades for stations are dictated by political need, not people’s needs and it’s not good enough.

“The Berejiklian Government has cast aside an independent assessment of need to push Unanderra Station further down the queue for an upgrade.

“On almost every measure Unanderra Station scored more highly yet stations with lower rankings, fewer passengers and accessible stations nearby have been prioritised above it.

“Earlier this week Minister Constance said “bear with us” but it is simply unbearable that the disabled, elderly and parents with prams continue to suffer for nothing more than short-term political gain.

“I am determined to see the lifts built at Unanderra Station and will not stop my campaign until the Berejiklian Government matches Labor’s commitment to build the lifts.

“All that our community is asking for is to return the funding that was taken away from us in 2011 – it’s only fair and it’s not too much to ask for.”