The upgrades will be completed in two stages with the lifts and covered footbridge moved to the centre of the station and closer to the existing commuter carpark under a new proposal.

“This is the start of the station upgrade that all of Wollongong has been waiting for”, Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully MP, said.

“I committed to our community that I would deliver lifts at Unanderra Station during the 2016 Wollongong by-election and I’ve delivered on my pledge”, he said.

The first stage of the project will provide a new family accessible toilet; unisex ambulant toilet; boarding assistance zones and a new public address system and hearing loops.

Mr Scully said that community comment is being sought on a new plan for the lifts and the covered footbridge that he and the community have been calling for to be built at the centre of the station.

“I have lobbied the Government to include a covered footbridge in the upgrades, following the general disappointment that the original design didn’t include one, despite it being a feature of other station upgrades throughout Sydney.

“Under the redesign the lifts and covered footbridge are moved to the centre of the platform”, Mr Scully said.

“It has long been my view that building the lifts closer to the carpark was a better option.

“It’s taken a while, but I think the Berejiklian Government might have finally gotten the message, that we expected an upgrade to Unanderra Station that not only solved the access problem, but one that also didn’t skimp on the basics like weather protection”, Mr Scully said.

The community can provide feedback on the design changes by 27 August 2021.

“So far $15 million has been allocated for the upgrades and in a matter of months, subject to final approvals, we will see lifts coming out of the ground and finally everyone will have access to better functioning Unanderra Station”, he said.