The lack of state budget funding for lifts at Unanderra train station doesn't mean hope is lost, according to Kiama MP Gareth Ward.
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In his capacity as Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra, Mr Ward has been lobbying for improved access at the station - and has hinted lifts might not be the only solution.
Mr Ward said it wasn't up to the government's budget to detail every single item of expenditure over the next year.
Any easy access upgrade to Unanderra station would be done through Transport for NSW's Transport Access Program (TAP) - which received $316 million in Tuesday's budget.
"Transport gets its budget for transport access and then it's up to the transport department to allocate to the projects that it sees as a priority in that current year," Mr Ward said.
"As this budget item would be contained within the Transport Access Program budget, I've asked the new Minister for Transport to review this request and also look at other options which may provide accessibility to Unanderra."
Mr Ward said he did not specify what these other options could be.
The Kiama MP has also met with the Unanderra Access Group and taken their concerns to Transport Minister Andrew Constance. He also said, as someone who was visually impaired, he understood the access difficulties public transport could create.
"I appreciate for people with genuine disabilities, how frustrating it is when you can't do the things you want to do," Mr Ward said.
"I know that first-hand. All I can continue to do is be a pain in the backside of the minister and that I will continue to do."
Richard Kramer from the Unanderra Access Group (UAG) has been pushing for improved access to his local station for more than a decade. He said the campaign had received a substantial boost due to video of double amputee Toby Lyndon crawling up the stairs at the station.
He also said he was pleased with the result of a recent meeting with Mr Ward. "[Mr Ward] mentioned that he is legally blind himself and he relies on public transport, unless someone can drive him," Mr Kramer said.
"He didn't promise anything, but said 'we can only try. I can take your concerns to the minister'."
The UAG is holding a sausage sizzle on Saturday to raise money and awareness for the cause. The sizzle will take place at Coles in Berkeley from 9am to 4pm.