Tuggerah Station lifts: Petition launched to speed up construction

The decade-long campaign for lifts at Tuggerah Station has ramped up again with thousands signing a petition calling for the construction to be fast tracked.

Many Central Coast residents are bypassing Tuggerah Station due to the lack of lifts.

With options of either a steep staircase or a ramp that stretches half a kilometre from one side to the other, many of the elderly, people with disabilities or mobility issues and mums with prams just can’t access it.

The decade-long fight for a lift at Tuggerah Station has once again ramped up with a petition launched to fast track construction of the lifts.

Josephine Johnston and Heather Marler are joining calls for the lifts to be fast tracked. Picture: Sue Graham

The Entrance Labor MP David Mehan is trying to speed up the process, with $34m funding for the lifts and station upgrade announced in the 2020 NSW Budget.

However Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch has been quick to reply, saying Tuggerah Station had not been forgotten.

Heather Marler, of Berkeley Vale, and Josephine Johnston, of Tuggerah, have joined the latest push saying it’s a struggle to cope with the lack of lifts.

Mrs Marler fell down part of the staircase last week when returning from a trip to Sydney, having decided to go down the stairs rather than walk the long way down via the ramp.

“I ended up with dreadful bruises but it could have been worse,” she said.

“If there was a lift I wouldn’t have injured myself.”

She said she had a friend whose husband is in a wheelchair who can no longer travel from Tuggerah.

Mrs Johnston has mobility issues which makes it extremely difficult for her to walk up and down stairs or the ramp.

David Mehan has launched a petition calling for work to be fast tracked. Picture: Sue Graham

“When I come home after meeting my brother in Hornsby it’s really hard getting up the ramp,” she said. “I know so many people that just don’t bother with Tuggerah any more and choose Wyong instead. We just want the lifts. I have been writing to (NSW Transport Minister) Andrew Constance, I told him the champagne is waiting and so am I.”

Mr Mehan said station upgrades were nearing completion at Lisarow, Ourimbah, Narara and Niagara Park

“This fight for lifts at Tuggerah has been going on for so long now,” he said.

The new lifts were 2019 State Government elections promises for both the Liberal and Labor.

“Two years on and nothing has happened,” Mr Mehan said.

“The money has been allocated but no action. This should be a priority. We want some answers rather than just waiting.”

Mr Mehan praised the community for not giving up on this issue.

“When it was first floated, I was shocked with how many people wanted it,” he said.

“It’s the only major station without lifts on the coast.”

One of the many community rallies held at the station over the years. Picture: Sue Graham

Mr Crouch has refuted Mr Mehan’s claims that the lifts at Tuggerah have not been prioritised.

“This could not be further from the truth,” Mr Crouch said.

“$34 million has already been allocated to make this project a reality and site investigations have been conducted by the dedicated team of Transport for NSW staff.

“Concept design work for this multimillion-dollar upgrade is also underway, and later this year I’ll be inviting the community to comment on the proposed scope of works.”

He pointed out that when the previous Labor Government upgraded Tuggerah Station, they failed to install lifts.

“We’re making up for lost time to ensure people with a disability, limited mobility, parents and carers with prams, and travellers with luggage can safely access Tuggerah Station,” he said.

Mr Crouch said Tuggerah Station was a priority. Picture: Sue Graham

“Transport for NSW has also been tasked with investigating longer-term improvements to nearby carparking, bus and vehicle movements and pedestrian access.”

Mr Crouch said four upgrades were currently underway under the State Government’s Transport Access Program (TAP).

“TAP upgrades are currently underway at Lisarow, Narara, Niagara Park and Ourimbah, totalling more than $48 million in investment, with more to come once construction begins at Point Clare and Tuggerah,” Mr Crouch said.

He said the TAP upgrades were expected to create 200 local jobs.