Just about every railway station within the south west region is in dire need of more commuter carparking spaces – a lot more.
An ongoing population boom means the carparking deficit will just get bigger and bigger to match the frustration of local commuters.
With a state election less than four months away, a State Government spending billions to knock down and rebuild stadiums is offering to look into the problem.
Which leaves Labor as the one that’s serious about tackling the commuter carparking deficit from Liverpool to Leppington and Edmondson Park to Campbelltown.
New leader Michael Daley today announced that as part of the party’s strategy Labor will build a multi storey carpark at Campbelltown if it wins the election next March.
“We will work with Campbelltown Council (which owns the site on Farrow Road) to design and build more than 450 carparking spaces to make sure local commuters get a fair go,’’ he told a media conference earlier today on the steps of Campbelltown station.
Mr Daley was flanked by local MP Greg Warren, who has a petition calling for more commuter carparking spaces at Campbelltown.
But also present were federal MPs Dr Mike Freelander and Anne Stanley, who were representing opposition infrastructure and transport spokesman Anthony Albanese.
Dr Freelander said Mr Albanese had been able to secure $4 million towards the $18 million Campbelltown multi storey carpark project.
Today’s announcement has come hot on the heels of a Labor commitment earlier in the week to partner with a Shorten Labor Government to invest $16 million to build an additional 300 car parking spots at Leppington train station, anoher commuter frustration hotspot.
Federal and State Labor will each contribute $8 million.
Recently Labor promised to build an $18 million multi-storey commuter carpark at Edmondson Park train station, which also has a massive carparking deficit.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I am regularly contacted by constituents who are frustrated about the lack of access to adequate public transport infrastructure in Macarthur, and indeed across South West Sydney,’’ said Dr Mike Freelander, the federal member for Macarthur.[/social_quote]
“The current level of commuter car parking at Campbelltown Station is simply inadequate.
“Demand is only going to increase as our region’s population continues to grow, which is why this investment is so vital,’’ he said.
Labor candidate for Camden, Sally Quinnell revealed Labor had adopted a regional approach to the carparking deficit issue and today’s announcement was a reflection of that strategy.
