A 2019 promise by the federal government to fund a multi storey commuter carpark at Macarthur railway station could remain just that in the foreseeable future.
The then Morrison Government made the commitment during that year’s election, but it has now come to light that the project did not proceed because the former Liberal State Government did not agree to co-fund it.
The Labor MP for Macarthur, Mike Freelander, responding to a letter from Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss, says this was because Canberra had committed just $15 million without consulting the NSW Government of the time.
He said the preferred option of Transport for NSW was for a multi storey carpark costing between $45 million and $63 million.
“Therefore, it was unable to proceed,’’ Dr Freelander writes in his letter, which will be tabled at tonight’s (April 11) Campbelltown Council meeting.
But the Labor MP did have some good news for the Campbelltown Mayor, confirming in his letter that the Albanese Government would honour the commitment for $22.1 million for the commuter carpark upgrade under way at Campbelltown railway station.
The mayor also wrote to state Labor MP Greg Warren on the same issue, seeking his support.
In his letter he points out that Macarthur station, pictured above, is a regional transport link and is used by people from Camden, Wollondilly and other parts of outer South Western Sydney, as well as Campbelltown residents.
The station also services students who attend the Western Sydney University Campbelltown campus, which is within walking distance of the railway line and the station itself.
In his reply, dated March 21, four days out from the NSW election, Mr Warren says “if privileged to win government, this is a matter that NSW Labor will review in consultation with Transport for NSW’’.
“This was a deeply disappointing outcome for our community, given that this is an essential piece of infrastructure for our growing community,’’ Mr Warren wrote.
Labor did win the March 25 election and is now in government, so a multi storey carpark at Macarthur station may yet rise from the ashes of a broken promise.
Time will tell.
