Transport focus to Peninsula visit

Public transport on the Peninsula was a focus of a visit to the Peninsula by Deputy State Liberal Leader and Shadow Minister for Transport and Waterways, Mr Barry O'Farrell, last week.

Mr O'Farrell said he was on the Peninsula last week to discuss Labors "failure to deliver to Central Coast train commuters the improvements they were promised".

"In February 2003, Central Coast commuters were promised these new carriages would be in service by 2005," Mr O'Farrell said.

"Long suffering Central Coast commuters are still waiting and in the meantime they're paying higher fares to travel in carriages that should have been retired."

Liberal candidate for Gosford Cr Chris Holstein said the new delays were a "kick in the teeth" for train commuters who were still experiencing evening delays.

"Despite slashing services and slowing trains, commuters are still late getting home to the Central Coast and missing out on time with their families," Cr Holstein said.

Mr O'Farrell said that whether it was upgrades to stations, the audit of infrastructure, or issues with road crossings such as the one on Rawson Rd, a Liberal State Government would remove the complete lack of focus.

He said that governments should not just make announcements; they should work with the community.

Mr O'Farrell said that in finding solutions to issues, it was important to sit with council and form a solution and then a program to get it done.

Mr O'Farrell also spoke about the increase in jetty rental fees, and said that there was a perception that the people who rent the jetties were rich and "well off" following concerns from local Bays residents.

He claimed it was another case of labor's "one size fits all" policy.

"We've got a lot of pensioners hit with fees for jetties," Mr O'Farrell said.

"These people have held their properties for years."

He said there needed to be recognition of people's ability to pay.

Mr O'Farrell said that his government would commit to boosting public transport usage, and would be looking at better bus services, and the need to attract people to use the rail system.

"There needs to be a big push, we need to expand to attract people to use the rail system," Mr O'Farrell said.

"We want to grow the usage, continue to experience growth, and give the people as little excuse not to use the rail system as possible."

Mr O"Farrell noted that the he would also look into more commuter car parking to encourage people back on to trains, but noted that any commitment towards extended commuter car parking may be viewed skeptically due to repeated promises from the Labor party.

He said that better linkage to buses was important and avoiding conflict between shopper and commuter parking at Woy Woy.

Cr Holstein echoed the comments made by Mr O'Farrell, that there was not enough parking, and that an improvement with rail services was needed.

Media release, November 8 Barry O'Farrell, Deputy NSW Liberal Leader Lyle Stone, November 8