If commuter car parking in Sydney can be fast-tracked by the Berejiklian Government so too should lifts at Unanderra and Towradgi stations, according to Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully.

Mr Scully said that everyone waiting for construction to start on the upgrades of Unanderra and Towradgi stations should feel insulted that the Berejiklian Government has sped up commuter car park construction at Sydney train stations without elevating the priority of lifts at local stations.

“You would think that projects we have been waiting a decade to begin might be higher on the transport project priority list”, Mr Scully said.

“Community consultation has taken place and comments on the Review of Environmental Factors have been provided, the only thing missing is the willingness of the Government to award a construction contract and get on with it.

“I have been saying since the start of the pandemic that the upgrade of Unanderra Station, including the construction of lifts, was the perfect project to be brought forward”, he said.

Upgrading local train stations not only overcomes access problems that have left the elderly, people with a disability or parents with prams without access to their local stations for years, it also helps create jobs.

“There is not an economic stimulus box that upgrading Unanderra and Towradgi stations doesn’t tick – it could use local businesses to do the work, providing up to 18 months of work, it could use locally produced steel in construction and it benefits local commuters by finally providing access for everyone”, Mr Scully said.

Mr Scully said that he had raised bringing forward local station upgrades in the NSW Parliament on multiple occasions and has written to the Minister for Transport and Roads again today urging that he fast-track the funding allocation and tender process for Unanderra and Towradgi stations so that work gets underway before the end of the year.

“Seeing lifts being built at Unanderra Station before the end of the year would make Unanderra residents Christmas dreams come true”, Mr Scully said.