JOHN GRAHAM MLC
SHADOW MINISTER FOR ROADS
JENNY AITCHISON MP
MEMBER FOR MAITLAND
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND ROADS
KATE WASHINGTON MP
MEMBER FOR PORT STEPHENS
LABOR’S $10 MILLION PLAN TO UPGRADE & REPAIR
PORT STEPHENS ROADS
NSW Labor will contribute over $10 million for urgent road upgrades and emergency road repairs across Port Stephens after 12 years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals, compounded by floods and a failure to invest in regional road maintenance.
Labor’s $10 million road upgrade package is to start detailed planning and early works on a number of roads projects across Port Stephens, including:
- Fairlands Rd, Medowie
- Italia Rd, East Seaham
- Wallalong Rd, Wallalong
- Rookes Rd, Salt Ash
Labor will also provide $1.8 million through Labor’s new Emergency Road Repairs Fund to address the road maintenance backlog. A Minns Labor Government will provide more than $1.8 million in additional road funding to Port Stephens Council (and $8.9 million to MidCoast Council that covers the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest area) from the Emergency Road Repairs Fund. This is in addition to (and in fact will more than double) the funding included in the Government’s pothole funding announcement from earlier this year.
In 2019, the Liberals and Nationals promised to reclassify and transfer up to 15,000 km of roads to help lift the burden on Councils. Despite being the Government’s signature regional roads commitment in 2019, it remains unfulfilled - and in the last four years the Government has transferred a total of zero kilometres of regional roads.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway have recently said the process could take another four years to complete, but the report has already been sitting on Minister Farraway’s Desk for nearly four months.
Regional Roads in Port Stephens that have been ignored by the Liberals and Nationals include Medowie Road, Clarence Town Road, Seaham Road, and Lemon Tree Passage Road.
Mayors and Councillors across the state have expressed extreme frustration at the Government’s broken promise on roads reclassification, demanding action now.
One of the reasons there been no progress on this signature election commitment is the independent panel report has been sitting on Minister Farraway’s Desk for nearly four months. The Opposition has called for its release. Transport documents show that once commenced the process may take more than eight years.
Mayors and Councillors across the state have expressed extreme frustration at the Government’s broken promise on roads reclassification, demanding action now.
Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Roads the Hon John Graham MLC:
“For the last 12 years, the Liberals have overseen billions of dollars in cost blowouts and overspends in mega projects in Sydney at the expense of the regions.”
“Labor is committed to supporting Councils to fix the local roads that people use every day to get to work and education.”
“Work starts today on getting our local roads across the regions up to scratch for our growing regional communities.”
Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Regional Transport & Roads, Jenny Aitchison MP:
“Under 12 years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals we have seen regional roads deteriorate to the point that they are now dangerous to residents.”
“In regional NSW, the roads crisis is now a cost of living issue for residents. Blown tires, damage to rims and radiators are a common cost for residents in regional NSW.”
“Kate Washington has been a terrific advocate for her community on campaigning for this urgently needed road repair and upgrade funding.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington MP
“Labor’s commitment of over $10 million towards roads in Port Stephens will be welcome news to Port Stephens Council and our community. Residents are fed up with the state of our local roads and can’t afford the cost of repairs to their cars.
“A Labor government will deliver the roads our region needs for the future.
