Willoughby Public Transport Services

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN (Willoughby) [7.22 p.m.]: I once again raise the important issue of public transport services in the Willoughby electorate. Fortunately, my residents live in close proximity to the Sydney central business district and regional centres. However, regrettably, demand for public transport services is growing far more quickly than the provision of services. I place on the record again the concerns raised by my constituents and my work advocating on their behalf. As members will appreciate, I have a passion for public transport and improving services, and it is a particular passion with regard to my electorate.

The morning peak hours cause a great deal of frustration, especially on the bus routes along Willoughby Road and Epping Road in North Lane Cove. People wait at bus stops and watch overcrowded buses go past. This is a major issue and a cause of ongoing frustration for commuters in the Willoughby electorate. Local residents have organised petitions detailing their concerns, which I have presented in this place, and written letters to the Minister calling for more frequent and reliable bus services. Unfortunately, to date the office of the Minister for Transport has sent only standard responses referring to meeting demand. That is not what people experience on a daily basis.

Chatswood railway station is undergoing a major upgrade, which has caused disruption, and many residents have complained about the lift frequently being out of order. That means older residents, those with prams and the disabled are finding it very difficult to access the station. The Artarmon community is also very disappointed that once again its station was not included in the easy-access program. People cannot access the station if they cannot use the stairs to get to the platform. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for the elderly, people with prams, those who are less mobile or the disabled to use Artarmon railway station.

I was pleased to be able to detail some of these issues recently in the local newspaper. I also highlighted some of the positive ideas, contributions and policies that the Opposition has offered to improve public transport services in the electorate of Willoughby and throughout New South Wales. Last month's North Shore Times contained an article about the Coalition's discussion paper entitled "Towards One Network". The policies in that paper would obviously have a positive impact if they were implemented in my electorate and in the rest of the State.

Regrettably, New South Wales does not have an integrated transport system. That has an impact on intermodal transport and negatively affects growth in patronage. It also affects the Government's ability to provide functioning transport interchanges, to deliver major transport infrastructure projects and to meet the needs of commuters. As has been stated previously, the Coalition's "Towards One Network" discussion paper has attracted positive feedback from residents in the Willoughby electorate and from transport stakeholders.

The Opposition has said on a number of occasions that there is no single solution to the many and complex problems in the transport portfolio. However, addressing the crisis in the delivery of services due to a dysfunctional and overly politicised bureaucratic structure is an important step. The discussion paper concludes that New South Wales is in desperate need of an integrated transport authority to ensure coordination between the transport modes to deliver major transport infrastructure projects and, ultimately, to improve services for commuters. It strongly recommends the establishment of a transport coordination authority in New South Wales and outlines a preferred option for public consultation.

I thank the many commuters on the North Shore who read the opinion piece that I contributed to the newspaper and who provided feedback about it and their ongoing concerns about the lack of services, which impacts their daily life and quality of life. It is regrettable that the State Government is the only public transport stakeholder that does not support the important recommendations in that discussion paper.