Eventually this will happen although it should occur with some urgency if the Shoalhaven is to address its core employment and funding challenges.

If we don't ramp up the pressure for funding then there is a risk that other projects like South Connex will mean that we are overlooked in the short term. 

Unfortunately the last council was more intent on running political protection for the federal government on this issue, only agreeing that they should be targeted in the final weeks prior to the Gash team's demise. 

Now we must make up for lost time.

The key development in the recent state/federal stoush is that the Member for Gilmore has changed her position to one of supporting an effort to see a federal contribution for the final section of the upgrade - assuming I'm reading her statements correctly. 

This is a huge advance on the previous position of only wanting to see federal funding for the Shoalhaven River Bridge and it should be welcomed.

Arguments about applications to Infrastructure Australia probably originate from the Office of Economic Development in Shoalhaven Council. 

Sadly, this office has been a mere bystander as the NSW government has committed around $1.6 billion of roads infrastructure funding to the region over recent years. 

Hopefully we can address its performance in the new council.

In short, major road funding does not originate with the faceless bureaucrats - it comes as a result of political leadership.

When Gareth Ward was just a councillor and candidate back in 2010, the then Opposition Leader and Member for Wentworth, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, visited the Shoalhaven to give his personal support and endorsement to the future Member for Kiama. 

Gareth's invitation to work with Ann Sudmalis in approaching the PM is an offer too good to refuse and should bring unity of purpose for our funding campaign.

This is an open invitation to Ann Sudmalis to make representation to our Prime Minister for additional funding to help ease the plight of the homeless in the Shoalhaven.

Given the fact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has most recently authorised the expenditure of $250,000 on some 20 odd public servants to attend an overseas conference in Paris to discuss ways of reducing expenditure waste, this would not be an unreasonable ask.

Given our government’s issues with debt and deficit,what say you to this display of excessive  expenditure to enable public servants to discuss ways of limiting such waste? 

While all our local agencies are struggling to deliver services with restricted funding,one of our government departments is engaging in such senseless spending.

It would be appreciated if you would raise with our Prime Minister this anomaly as the need for expenditure restraint is the domain of all of us and this includes individual government departments.

For your urgent consideration and attention.

John Howard is a prize hypocrite calling for tougher gun laws.

He supported the criminal  invasion of Iraq which overthrew the secular regime of Saddam Hussein, under which all religious  factions lived in relative harmony, and cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and eventually  spawned  ISIS.

And he says he wants to save lives?