I am delighted that the new station is being built because it was a commitment made by the former state Labor government. I was very pleased when the then Liberal opposition also committed to building it just weeks from the March 2011 election.

This ensured that regardless of which party won the election the new railway station (then well known as Flinders) would be built.

The station’s proposal for naming has only become a point of controversy because of the unilateral way in which it was announced by Mr Ward in February last year. It was done with next to no community consultation.

Personally I see nothing wrong with retaining the previous naming of ‘‘Flinders’’. But I acknowledge that there is a growing view that it should perhaps be named ‘‘Shellharbour’’ or ‘‘Shellharbour City’’.

The point in the final analysis is that the Shellharbour City community should be involved in making this decision.

It really is, and has always been, that simple.

Anna Watson, Member for Shellharbour