MEMBER for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has challenged the state government to build a multi-level car park at Morisset Station.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“If the state government is serious about getting more people to use public transport, it needs to invest in better facilities for local commuters,” Mr Piper said.
The Independent MP said a multi-level car park must be considered for Morisset station to cater for the growing populations moving to new residential developments in Cooranbong, Bonnells Bay, Morisset and Morisset Park.
Similar car parks should also be considered for Fassifern station and at Cardiff where daily commuters are already parking out suburban streets more than 500 metres from the station, he said.
Mr Piper recently commissioned concept designs for a multi-level car park at three different sites at Morisset Station.
Two of the sites face Dora Street and the town’s shopping strip.
The third site fronts Macquarie Street, on the Sydney-bound side of the station.
“We have growing populations in this area, a growing number of commuters, but existing facilities are at or near capacity,” Mr Piper said.
Making news:
“I had concept designs for Morisset drawn up because I wanted to show the state government and the local community what could be done.
“While I believe the best potential is on the Sydney-bound side of the station, a car park on the Morisset township side could incorporate a pedestrian bridge to the shops.”
At Gosford Station, a pedestrian bridge extends over Mann Street to the shopping strip.
Mr Piper has discussed multi-level car parks with engineers and is confident the cost of such structures is now considerably cheaper than it used to be.
Modern building methods now incorporated pre-cast steel and concrete sections which made construction costs cheaper, he said.
Southlake Business Chamber and Community Alliance president Jo Hanlon welcomed Mr Piper’s proposal.
She said Morisset desperately needed facilities to cater for existing and future growth.
“The place is growing rapidly and we have to get this investment in infrastructure going,” Ms Hanlon said.
“This type of project would bring more people into Morisset and make it much easier for local residents and business owners to move around and make better use of their commuting time.”
Mr Piper said this parking shortage for train commuters was also increasingly being felt elsewhere in the electorate.
“We’re already seeing significant problems at Cardiff, too, where all-day commuters park out residential streets because there is no adequate parking near the station,” Mr Piper said.
“A similar problem is starting to emerge at Fassifern.
“We need to start with a clear plan, and after speaking to people and business owners in those areas, I know that this is where the government needs to be investing to meet current and future demand.”
Mr Piper said he will hold further discussions with the community, the state government and Transport Minister “to get things moving”.
Last month, the state government promised to install lifts and build a multi-level car park at Tuggerah Station, if re-elected in the March poll.
That matched a commitment made by Labor in November.
