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- 20 June 2007
Illawarra Roads
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Page: 1287
The Hon. DON HARWIN: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Roads. Is he aware that roads in the Illawarra such as the F6, the Princes Highway and Appin Road are in a state of disrepair because the Roads And Traffic Authority will not hire permanent staff to fix them? Will he tell the House why the Roads and Traffic Authority has not hired staff to operate machinery that is "sitting idle, rotting away in Bellambi", according to an Australian Workers Union official, while motorists in the Illawarra are forced to dodge potholes, cracks and ruts on local highways and freeways?
The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: I want to be clear about this and get my thoughts in order. The Hon. Don Harwin is now quoting a union official as the basis for his questions! I am pleased about his conversion to supporting the labour movement. It is an organised labour movement by the Hon. Don Harwin. Road spending in the Illawarra—
The Hon. Melinda Pavey: There are many union workers voting conservative.
The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: What happened at the last election? The Hon. Melinda Pavey should stay in the seat she is occupying at the moment! Road spending in the Illawarra has increased to $174.2 million as part of the State's biggest ever Roads budget announced yesterday. Almost three-quarters of the Roads capital maintenance program budget will be spent outside the Sydney metropolitan area, with $2.6 billion—72 per cent—committed. This is about meeting the commitments of the Iemma Labor Government to the Illawarra. This record budget allows a major project to move forward, such as the Oak Flats to Dunmore upgrade on the Princes Highway and the northern extension at Bulli.
[ Interruption]
I do not have the private school upbringing of many of those sitting opposite. But if they want to make that class distinction, they can make it. I am proud of my public school upbringing. Some $130.2 million has been allocated for road development in the Illawarra, $7.2 million for traffic management and $34.1 million for maintenance. Key projects in yesterday's budget for the Illawarra include $45 million to continue—
[ Interruption]
The Hon. Don Harwin asked the question; he should listen to the answer. Some $45 million has been allocated to continue work on upgrading the highway to a dual carriageway between Oak Flats and Dunmore, $30 million to continue the northern distributor extension from Tandys Lane to the highway at Bulli, $20 million for the Nowra to Nerriga upgrade, $114 million for the South Nowra to Jervis Bay road safety upgrades, $7.5 million for the Princes Highway to Conjola Mountain realignment; $8 million to start work on the Kiama ramps—
[ Interruption]
I am glad I give the Opposition such amusement. Yesterday we had the best budget ever delivered by a Labor Government and the best those opposite can do is have a go at me. It makes me proud, and the Hon. Michael Costa is proud to have produced such a budget.
[ Interruption]
The Leader of the Opposition should not worry, because the Hon. Greg Pearce will be occupying his seat in this Chamber before he knows it! Some $3.4 million has been allocated to continue the route option investigation for the highway upgrade to Berry and Bomaderry, $2.5 million for pavement reconstruction, and $2 million on planning and reconstruction of the highway intersection at Lawrence Hargrave Drive. This has been a record Roads budget for New South Wales— The Leader of the Opposition should not worry, because the Hon. Greg Pearce will be occupying his seat in this Chamber before he knows it! Some $3.4 million has been allocated to continue the route option investigation for the highway upgrade to Berry and Bomaderry, $2.5 million for pavement reconstruction, and $2 million on planning and reconstruction of the highway intersection at Lawrence Hargrave Drive. This has been a record Roads budget for New South Wales—$3.6 billion. I compliment the Hon. Michael Costa, the Treasurer, and, of course, the Hon. Morris Iemma, the Premier, on their commitment to improving roads in and around New South Wales. Our commitment to road safety and reducing congestion is obvious for everyone to see. Unlike the Opposition, with its unfunded promises during the last election and its failure to produce a transport policy at all during the last election, we are getting on with the job of improving roads in New South Wales and ensuring that New South Wales is open for business.
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