Wollongong MP Paul Scully has told the state’s transport minister he can call the long-awaited lifts at Unanderra train station “Lifty McLiftyface” – if it helps convince the government to build them.
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The comment, made in the NSW Parliament this week, comes after Transport Minister Andrew Constance was forced to rename “Ferry McFerryface”.
The name change followed revelations Mr Constance’s unpopular choice was a captain’s pick rather than a public favourite.
In a private member’s statement, delivered on Wednesday evening, Mr Scully used the Ferry McFerryface fail as part of a renewed call for the government to build the Unanderra station lifts.
The former NSW Labor government pledged $11.4 million to upgrade the station, including money for three lifts, in 2009.
However, following the election of the O’Farrell government, the funding was pulled and the project abandoned in 2011.
During the past six years, the elderly, parents with prams and people with a disability have struggled every day with the 72 steps to access the platform, Mr Scully told the Parliament.
“People have been injured and hospitalised using those stairs, and people are sick of seeing lifts constructed and access improved at stations that ranked below Unanderra in the government’s own rankings,” he said.
“I am sure that frustrated local residents would even be willing to name the lifts ‘Lifty McLiftyface’ in a fake naming competition if that will help convince the minister to get them built,” he said.
“But despite the government refusing to build lifts at Unanderra station, according to the Premier, the Illawarra has never had it so good.
“I do not accept that and this year the government should match Labor’s commitment to fund the construction of the lifts and get them built once and for all.”