Lisarow Station’s upgrade is complete with the public now able to enjoy improved accessibility and a new bush tucker garden.
Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch said the $12.4M project improved safety, accessibility and connectivity for users of public transport.
“These improvement have made Lisarow Station easier to access for all customers including people with a disability, limited mobility, parents and carers with prams and travellers with luggage.
“Customers can now use the new lifts and the upgraded accessible paths in and around the station as well as new accessible parking spaces and the kiss-and-ride space in the Railway Cres commuter carpark.
“Accessible improvements to Lisarow Station also include a new ramp to the southern station entry from the Pacific Highway pedestrian footpath, formalised boarding assistance zones on each platform and upgraded CCTV and lighting for improved safety and security.
“Our aim is to make train travel as easy as possible for every commuter and this upgrade certainly does that for Lisarow locals.
“These upgrades provided valuable work to tradies here on the Central Coast over 15 months it took to complete this project,” Crouch said.
The NSW Government funded the $12.4M project from the Transport Access Program.
Member for The Entrance, David Mehan, said the announcement that the project was complete was premature.
Mehan said although the lifts were in place and operational, the southern access ramp still was not open.
“The lifts might be operating, which is great, but we are a long way from this station being fully accessible to all members of my community,” Mehan said.
Crouch confirmed the access ramp was not open, not because it is not complete, but due to safety considerations with the ongoing upgrade of the Pacific Hwy.
The ramp is expected to be fully accessible by March next year.
“The Lisarow community campaigned long and hard to get this station upgrade and I’m surprised the announcement has been made before it really is accessible to everyone,” Mehan said.
A petition calling for lifts at the station was first tabled in the NSW Parliament in 2016.
This was followed by three petitions from The Entrance electorate calling on the State Government to give funding priority to Central Coast stations from the Transport Access Program, Mehan said.
Funding for Lisarow was finally announced during the 2019 State Election.
Mehan said he welcomed the release of the final design in January, which saw parking spaces increased from 25 to 63, but that the upgrade might not have occurred without the huge community campaign.
Terry Collins and Sue Murray
Source:
Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch