NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian visits Casula
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian tells the Leader her vision for Liverpool and southwest Sydney.
Liverpool
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THE State Government will look at opportunities to increase commuter car parking at Edmondson Park and Leppington railway stations.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Holsworthy state Liberal MP Melanie Gibbons visited Casula Mall last week, meeting local businesses before sitting down to speak with the Liverpool Leader.
Ms Berejiklian said she was proud of delivering the South West rail link for the booming areas of Edmondson Park and Leppington and confirmed the government would investigate opportunities to increase commuter parking.
A lack of parking at the two stations recently prompted a community petition for a multistorey carpark, which garnered more than 5000 signatures.
Labor has committed to an $18 million multistorey carpark at Edmondson Park railway station if it is elected next year.
The two stations collectively have about 1200 commuter car parking spaces. When asked whether this initial number was inadequate, Ms Berejiklian said she stood by the decision.
“We based that on what we thought would be the population but it’s great to see more people are using the rail service than we expected which is fantastic.
“Things have happened very rapidly which is positive. People are having a lot of confidence in southwest Sydney.
“Now, of course, it’s a popular service and residents rely on that parking so I’ll be looking forward to delivering on (Ms Gibbon’s) request and she has advocated for that on a number of occasions.
“We want to do what’s best for the community.”
Ms Berejiklian said it was important for communities to retain their local character as cities such as Liverpool undergo development.
“We are already investing in the infrastructure and planning for that growth and we don’t want to see too much growth,” she said.
“Can I say that we will make sure that our local communities feel they still maintain their beautiful local character but also that we have a choice of housing.”
Ms Berejiklian said the values of communities in southwest Sydney resonated with her.
“I feel a kinship with the community here. It reminds me of the values that I grew up on. It reminds me of the people I grew up with and I feel really at home here,” she said.
“I want to make sure that everyone who raises a family here and lives here knows that the next generation are going to have all those opportunities that I had growing up and more because we’re investing in this area.”