Kiama MP Gareth Ward has gone over the head of Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis writing to the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull seeking federal money for the ongoing upgrade of the Princes Highway.
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Frustrated with the lack of support by the federal government in the ongoing highway upgrade, Mr Ward earlier this week said he would write directly to Mr Turnbull calling for support.
His move comes after Mrs Sudmalis launched a stinging rebuke at the NSW government over its repeated calls for federal funding for the Princes Highway upgrade saying the “state government had not done the background work required to make federal funding possible.”
It’s a fact Mr Ward has strongly refuted.
“I need to clarify some recent public statements made by Mrs Sudmalis in claiming the NSW government has not applied for federal funding through the correct avenue,” Mr Ward.
“On September 14, 2015, the NSW government submitted to Infrastructure Australia a priority list of projects which included a new bridge on the Princes Highway over the Shoalhaven River. The submission was officially lodged by Infrastructure NSW on behalf of the NSW government.
“Therefore, the claim by the Federal Member for Gilmore that the NSW government has not listed the Princes Highway as a priority in its submissions to the Australian Infrastructure Investment Program is incorrect.”
In his letter Mr Ward states the government has invested or committed a record $1.5 billion to deliver the Gerringong upgrade, South Nowra upgrade, the Foxground Berry bypass and Albion Park Rail bypass.
For Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis to claim the NSW government had not listed the Princes Highway as a priority in its submissions to the Australian Infrastructure Investment Program is incorrect. We submitted an application in September 2015.
- Kiama MP Gareth Ward
“As it stands, the federal government has not yet made a contribution towards these works,” he said.
“I note that the former Howard government was a strong supporter of many previous upgrades to the Princes Highway in our region.
“Former federal governments have contributed to projects such as the Alstonvile Bypass, the Barton Highway, the Bega Bypass, the Great Western Highway, the F3, F5, the Hume Highway, the New England Highway, the North Orange Bypass and the Pacific Highway. In our region we can see the north Kiama bypass and the Lake Conjola deviation as significant examples of this support.”
Mr Ward said the Commonwealth/NSW Government partnership was currently funding several road projects around the state, including WestConnex, the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor, NorthConnex, the M1, the Mitchell Highway, the Newell Highway, and the Pacific Highway.
“Both former and current federal governments have invested significant sums of money into the Pacific Highway (on a 80/20 shared funding arrangement), and the M4 and the M5,” he said.
“This causes many in my community to question why some roads receive funding and others don’t. The Pacific Highway is the most obvious example of the commonwealth’s confusing approach.”
Mr Ward said the Turnbull government was currently investing $210 million into the Princes Highway duplication between Traralgon and Sale in Victoria, establishing a clear precedent for federal funds being spent on the Princes Highway.
“Should federal funds be forthcoming, funding for the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade as well as the new highway crossing over the Shoalhaven River could be delivered,” Mr Ward said.
“However, these projects are still some years away without federal support.
“Planning is now underway for a new bridge that will improve conditions on the Princes Highway over the Shoalhaven River and the NSW government is grateful for federal contributions in this regard.
“As well as a new bridge, the project will look at improving congestion at the intersections at Illaroo Road, Bolong Road and Bridge Road / Pleasant Way.
“The federal government is presented with a unique opportunity to deliver funding to help upgrade our Princes Highway and improve a road network which is so critical to the Illawarra and South Coast community.”
Mr Ward has asked the PM to investigate his concerns and advise of his position.