Member for Wollongong Paul Scully MP, has written to Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast, Gareth Ward MP, proposing a bipartisan push for this year’s NSW Budget to include funding to upgrade Unanderra Station, including installing its much-needed lifts.
Mr Scully’s push comes after the official opening of lifts at Narwee Station on 29 December 2017 by the Premier and Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Mark Coure MP, who is also the local MP for Oatley.
Mr Scully’s letter notes that Mr Ward agreed last year to seek a meeting with the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance MP, but even his approach was unsuccessful.
“A bipartisan effort should finally convince the Minister to upgrade Unanderra Station and provide the lifts”, Mr Scully’s letter says.
Mr Scully’s letter to Mr Ward is attached.
NSW Labor has committed funding, if elected to form government in March 2019, in its first Budget to upgrade Unanderra Station and install the lifts.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“I am hopeful that Gareth Ward, in his role as the Government’s representative in the Illawarra, will join with me in a bipartisan effort to convince the Minister, Andrew Constance MP, that funding for the upgrade of Unanderra Station should be included in this year’s NSW Budget.
“I’ve used every opportunity since my election in November 2016 to lobby the Government to provide funding for the Unanderra Station lifts.
“Signatures on petitions have been collected, public rallies held, letters have been written and meetings have been convened.
“Yet the same people who struggled two year ago to negotiate the 72 steps at Unanderra Station to gain safe access to Unanderra Station platform continue to do so.
“This is simply a matter of basic fairness for our elderly, parents with prams, commuters with baggage and perhaps most importantly, people with a disability, to do what the rest of us take for granted – safely catch a train at their local station.
“NSW Labor is already committed to funding the upgrade of Unanderra Station in our first budget if we are elected to form government in March 2019.
“I’m simply asking the Government, hopefully with Mr Ward’s support, to match NSW Labor’s funding commitment in this year’s budget in June.”
