Business matters: Fairfield MP Guy Zangari plans to keep an eye on design and construction details of the Fairfield Transport Interchange.Picture: Jeff de Pasquale
FAIRFIELD MP Guy Zangari has made it his priority to meet with the Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, or a ministry delegate to discuss the construction and design details of Fairfield Transport Interchange.
He wants to ensure businesses and commuters get the maximum benefit from the project.
"I'd like very firm answers on what's been proposed," he said. "It's great the upgrade is happening but we've just got to make sure it's done the right way."
He plans to meet a ministry delegate this week.
"I want to know when it's going to start," he said.
"One of the questions I asked at the end of last year was 'When is it starting?' and they said 'December 2012'.
"So now we're in March 2013 — it's overdue and it keeps being delayed."
Business owners have previously expressed certain concerns about the project to Mr Zangari.
"We've got to make sure businesses aren't affected by any of the changes," he said. "It's tough for businesses as it is at the moment and you don't want a vital piece of infrastructure to have a negative impact — you want it to have a positive impact. And while bringing people in and out is good for business and a priority, the main priority is to get commuters in and out of the station safely."
Safety is also why he is pushing for larger pedestrian islands.
Mr Zangari wants to know if provisions have been made to upgrade the arcade on The Crescent side of the station.
"It needs a spruce-up. Also I know the Fairfield Council had some plans for a little monument area in the interchange and we still want that to go ahead," he said.
Adequate shelters and commuter parking are among his priorities. "We want to ensure there's adequate parking provision on both sides of the train line. I want to keep an eye on that," he said.