WARD CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO RE-START PRINCES HIGHWAY WORKS

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward says he’s concerned that lifesaving works and spending on the Princes Highway has dried up with no clear plans for future upgrades south of Nowra.

Footage of Mr Ward’s Notice of Motion can be found here.

Mr Ward has used a Notice of Motion in State Parliament to call on State and Commonwealth Labor Governments to re-start upgrade works on the Princes Highway.

“We hear lots of talk of planning but works on the Princes Highway south of the Jervis Bay Road have dried up. The Princes Highway is a vital link for south coast locals and it needs ongoing investment.

“From Gerringong to Foxground, Foxground to Berry, Berry to Bomaderry, the new Nowra Bridge, and the Albion Park Rail Bypass, these works seamlessly continued for years generating thousands of jobs and making our roads safer and more reliable.

“So many local emergency services personnel tell me that they simply don’t get called out like they once did when the Princes Highway was a single carriage way death trap.

“The upgrades I secured in Government have saved lives and I’m deeply concerned that Labor has shown no real commitment to continuing lifesaving work further south. The Princes Highway should receive the same treatment as the Pacific Highway did.

“In spite of spending $100 million on planning, we are no closer to the Nowra Bypass either. I’d be interested to know if the NSW Government is considering changing the route for this project.

“Labor has a terrible track record on infrastructure and particularly the Princes Highway and it’s time for State and Commonwealth Governments to come clean on future plans,” Mr Ward concluded.

Mr Ward’s Notice of Motion:

1. Notes the incalculable number of lives saved and the enormous reduction in road deaths and road trauma between Albion Park and Nowra due to more than $2 billion spent upgrading the Princes Highway.
2. Notes that since the election of NSW Labor, funding and works on the Princes Highway have more than halved and there has been no real progress on the Nowra bypass.
3. Calls on the NSW and Commonwealth Labor Governments to use forthcoming budgets to continue lifesaving upgrade works into south coast roads.