Public Transport Infrastructure

Ms ALISON MEGARRITY: My question is directed to the Minister for Transport. Could the Minister update the House on the Iemma Government's commitment to public transport infrastructure across Sydney?

Mr JOHN WATKINS: I thank the member for Menai for her question. She has been an energetic champion of public transport in her area. Our public transport users are the big winners in this year's budget. The Iemma Government will again break the record when it comes to allocations for new lines, upgraded stations, new rolling stock and new buses, and we are delivering the services for the people we are committed to serving. We are also putting a focus on the infrastructure that supports good public transport, such as our new and expanded car parks and bus-rail interchanges.

The Government is spending a whopping $5.9 billion on public transport in the coming financial year—billions of dollars worth of investment—to move Sydneysiders to and from home, school, work and university every day on CityRail and bus services, and further afield on our CountryLink rail services. I know members are aware of the big-ticket items that were in the budget this year: $106 million to get on with the job of delivering the north-west rail link; $212 million to purchase land for the North West Metro and south-west rail link; $150 million to complete the Epping to Chatswood rail link; $353 million for this year's provision for $1.8 billion worth of clearways; $80 million to continue the operation of Sydney Ferries, with $30 million set aside for capital works in that area; and a record $903 million for the operation of bus services right across New South Wales.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Willoughby will cease interjecting.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: Last week I visited some of our smaller but just as important public transport projects: one completed and others in various stages of design and development. We are building these whilst we keep services running. We maintain safe access through stations and onto our platforms for hundreds and sometimes thousands of people each day whilst we go about the challenging work of improving the services. It is a credit to our passengers and the skill of our staff that we can continue to do this major infrastructure work whilst continuing the delivery of service every day.

Last week the member for Balmain and I visited Australia's first purpose-built environmentally friendly bus depot at Leichhardt, due for completion at the end of next year. We were there to see the pouring of concrete on a project worth $35 million, with $27 million allocated in this year's budget. Leichhardt bus depot serves 17 bus routes through the inner-west and into the central business district. Much to the member's delight, when complete the depot will house 200 buses—95 per cent will be powered by compressed natural gas and 5 per cent will be Euro 5 diesel vehicles.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wakehurst will cease interjecting.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: It will be Australia's greenest bus depot. I also joined the member for Riverstone last week to release concept plans to improve the existing bus-rail interchange at Windsor. As part of the project we will add commuter parking for around an additional 150cars, a kiss-and-ride area, and improved shelter and seating. This is in addition to the $432 million to be spent on the duplication of the Richmond rail line over the coming years.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Hawkesbury to order for the second time.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: Improving the links for train and bus passengers in this area will encourage more local residents to leave their cars at home and use public transport—something that is beneficial to our entire community. Tenders for the project at Windsor will be called later this year, with construction expected to start next year. On the same day I went to Werrington, on the western line, with the member for Menai and the member for Londonderry. It was an action-packed day in public transport and we unveiled Sydney's first railway station powered by renewable energy, at Werrington.

I am delighted to report that CityRail is again adding to its green credentials by installing solar cells on a canopy roof. Those cells could contribute up to 40 per cent of the power needed to operate that station. This is a further investment in green public transport. I am very happy to look at that trial in great detail to see how we can progress it. The cells were installed as part of the $5.4 million easy-access upgrade to complete the station. Passengers at Werrington now have two new lifts and new stairs that improve accessibility for pensioners, mums and dads with prams, and the disabled. Since 1994 a total of 96 stations on the network have been the subject of easy-access upgrades. Almost $500 million has been spent to make our railway stations more accessible to the people of New South Wales.

It was great to visit Burwood with the member for Strathfield to announce the detailed study design for the upcoming easy-access upgrade of Burwood station that is now underway. The Government has allocated $8 million this financial year to a project that will cost $18 million to complete. Burwood station was completed in 1892 and poses unique engineering challenges. The upgrade is expected to commence later this year and is due for completion in the first half of 2010.

Canopies will also be designed this year to provide extra protection from the weather at 14 stations, including the local station of the member for Menai. Work will also continue on the Bankstown bus interchange, where construction is almost complete on pedestrian shelters, pedestrian crossings, improved paving and street furniture and signage. Strathfield station will also be upgraded with the construction of two additional ticket windows and ticket vending machines, at an estimated cost of $580,000. The list goes on. Como station will have works to the value of $230,000; bus-rail interchanges will be built at Morisset, Macarthur, Hurstville and Tuggerah; and studies will be completed on interchanges at 25 locations—too many to list.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: They include Spit Junction, Neutral Bay, Cremorne Junction, Brookvale and Dee Why. A rail interchange will also be built at Penrith. These are just some of the projects the Government is getting on with to improve public transport infrastructure. It will continue work on commuter car parks at Holsworthy, Morisset, Woy Woy, Wentworthville, Werrington, Seven Hills, Glenfield and Bankstown—the list goes on and on.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will cease interjecting.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: Easy-access upgrades will continue across the network. They will include completion of works at Eastwood and the continuation of upgrades at Lindfield and Emu Plains, work at Burwood and the design of the upgrade at Newtown. The people of New South Wales deserve this huge amount of work, which is part of the Iemma Government's commitment to improving public transport. Much of this work will benefit people who live in Coalition electorates. This Government is proud to deliver for the people of New South Wales.