Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) (19:29): Month after month, year after year, I have talked in this Chamber about the need for more services and infrastructure to support our growing population in Lake Macquarie. Whether I am talking about health services, social housing or roads, the underlying issue is always the same: The Government investment in our region does not match the growth that we are seeing and that we know is coming. Lake Macquarie is one of the fastest growing electorates in the State and it is little wonder why. We are strategically located between Sydney and Newcastle, close to the Blue Mountains. We have access to the M1 and are situated on the train line linking the two cities. We boast land availability as well as beautiful natural surroundings and relaxed lakeside living. The unprecedented growth we are experiencing is transforming collections of villages along the lake into strategic growth corridors. Major growth hotspots bookend my electorate, with Morisset in the south and north-west Lake Macquarie attracting increasing industrial, commercial and residential development. But I return to the train line.
The Government has designated four transport oriented development sites, or TOD precincts, in Lake Macquarie—yet only two of the stations are accessible for people with limited mobility. Morisset station is accessible, and safety and accessibility upgrades are underway at Cockle Creek station. However, Teralba and Booragul stations are not accessible. Booragul station, which is located right next to a residential aged-care facility, requires passengers to use stairs to enter and exit the station. At Teralba, passengers need to use stairs to enter and exit the station, as well as to cross over it. The stations do not meet the needs of my community's many ageing residents, or families moving into the area to take advantage of new housing, including Billy's Lookout at Teralba, which will house around 1,000 residents when finished. We also expect to see more people moving to and travelling throughout Lake Macquarie as development commences in the TOD precincts, and the proposed transformation of the nearby Macquarie Coal complex into a major mixed-use and industrial employment precinct. With additional development, we anticipate an uptick in patronage at those less-accessible stations, making their upgrade an even higher priority.
In southern Lake Macquarie, Morisset station is also failing to meet the needs of Lake Macquarie locals. While it is the most highly utilised station in my electorate, parking near the station is far from what is needed. Since 2019 I have been talking with the State Government about the need for a multi-level commuter car park at Morisset station, and I went so far as to commission an architect to put together some concept designs. At that time I identified that Fassifern and Cardiff stations also needed more parking. Funding for business cases to support additional parking at those three stations was included in the 2021-2022 budget, but we have seen nothing since. I get regular complaints from people who cannot park near Morisset and Fassifern stations, which is making travel more difficult and reinforcing the lower than average uptake of public transport in the region. In other words, people are choosing to drive rather than deal with finding a car spot at a Lake Macquarie rail station.
If the Government is serious about meeting its objectives in the Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan—including creating access to public transport for all, supporting the delivery of well-located housing, including in Lake Macquarie's TOD precincts, and providing a network that supports a diversifying and growing economy—then it needs to get serious and deliver fit-for-purpose infrastructure. Stations must be safe and accessible to all passengers, including people living with disability or mobility issues, older people and those travelling with prams or luggage. They must have adequate parking and be part of an integrated transport system that allows people to travel between home and their destination with ease. The community is understandably frustrated with growth that is not accompanied by much-needed infrastructure and services. I call on the Government to deliver much-needed local services and infrastructure, which will support its push for more housing in Lake Macquarie.