Windsor Road Junction, Baulkham Hills

Mr WAYNE MERTON (Baulkham Hills) [5.14 p.m.]: I speak on an issue of great importance not only to residents of The Hills district but also to the thousands of motorists who travel through the Baulkham Hills area to the Hawkesbury and central western regions of New South Wales or to the Central Coast via Wisemans Ferry. I refer to the intersection of Windsor Road, Old Northern Road and Seven Hills Roads. All three roads are under the control of the Roads and Traffic Authority [RTA] and the area is known as "the junction". To say that at peak hours this major intersection is at gridlock is an understatement. By "peak hours" I refer to lengthy periods commencing at 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

The situation has not improved and will only get worse by virtue of the north-west Rouse Hill-Kellyville development that was approved by the Labor Government in 1985. When this development is completed it will house an additional population of some 250,000 people—the same size as the population of Canberra. In addition, the Iemma Government has failed to commence construction of the north-west rail link, which was promised to be completed to Castle Hill by 2010 but later extended to 2015. In recent weeks we have been told that a metro line will be built, with no details of funding or commencement. Many disillusioned, shattered and devastated people simply regard the project as another dream of a Government that is about political expediency rather than providing services to real people.

Residents of The Hills are captives of our roads, with local motorists, buses and tourists travelling to the central west all competing for space on roads that were inadequate more than 15 years ago. This scandalous intersection is the focal point for transport chaos in The Hills area. Daily, motorists are subjected to increasing stress and trauma and many become agitated as they are forced into almost traffic meltdown. Recently Baulkham Hills Shire Council adopted a Baulkham Hills town centre development control plan that will substantially increase housing densities and provide additional retail and commercial development for the area. Council has realised that an essential part of these changes to the local planning scheme should include the construction of an overpass-underpass at this intersection. Council formally moved at its meeting of 25 March that this should happen.

The Roads and Traffic Authority appears to believe that more bus lanes in the town centre are the answer, with additional bus priority lanes planned along the Windsor Road north of the intersection. Many of us remember what has happened at Epping Road. Whilst new bus lanes may assist local transport problems in the short term, they are creating additional traffic chaos as more cars fight for less road space. I am informed by Baulkham Hills Shire Council—and I acknowledge the assistance given to me in this respect—that the daily traffic volumes on each of these main roads exceed 40,000 and are at capacity right now. Parramatta remains the single largest destination for our local workforce outside of the Baulkham Hills local government area in the morning peak.

The Baulkham Hills Shire Council further notes that the local population is growing in accordance with State Government housing targets. These new residents, in addition to those of the new north-west developments, will need both car and bus access through Baulkham Hills town centre. The Roads and Traffic Authority was in the process of contracting a new $10 million left-turn lane from Old Northern Road into Windsor Road, which may well reduce queues for bus and cars in the short term only. As a council officer stated:

Buses are extensively used by our residents, so it's obvious that when we are given a transport option, we are ready to use it. But it's no good if the buses simply get caught in a new queue further along Windsor Road, or they are caught in their own queue because they cannot enter the adjacent lane. The grade separation we propose would continue to allow buses to get to one of the most important bus stops in northwest Sydney and then onto the M2 without more delays.

Further, should the Roads and Traffic Authority finally approve the west-facing ramps for the M2 at the Windsor Road interchange, the new intersection arrangements will also include a bus priority lane. So it would be logical to correctly plan both these intersections now to get the most benefit for public transport. This grade separation will be an expensive project. A similar intersection at Norwest Business Park cost taxpayers about $50 million and the Baulkham Hills town centre project will probably cost the same, maybe more. Delaying the commitment to do the work will only result in more expense. The M2 west-facing ramps will probably cost over $25 million, when they could have been built in 1995 at a cost of about $5 million. That highlights the financial situation. I am pleased that council supports this project. I am prepared to work with council to ensure that the Minister for Roads addresses this important issue. The people of The Hills are in desperate need of transport relief and need an underpass or overpass, as suggested by council, at this vital intersection.