❓ Mr. McGowan questions the Minister for Transport regarding a switched-off electronic billboard on the Kwinana Freeway, specifically concerning payments to APN Outdoor and potential state liability. The Minister explains the reasons for the shutdown and ongoing review.
AnsweredQoN 722Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KWINANA FREEWAY — ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD — APN OUTDOOR
722. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the electronic billboard on Kwinana Freeway that
has been switched off and the agreement with APN Outdoor regarding revenue.
(1) Has APN
Outdoor been paid any money for lost revenue for this billboard being switched
off?
(2) Under the
revenue-splitting agreement with APN Outdoor, how much is the state liable for
with this billboard not producing any revenue?
(3) Will it be
turned on again?
722. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the electronic billboard on Kwinana Freeway that
has been switched off and the agreement with APN Outdoor regarding revenue.
(1) Has APN
Outdoor been paid any money for lost revenue for this billboard being switched
off?
(2) Under the
revenue-splitting agreement with APN Outdoor, how much is the state liable for
with this billboard not producing any revenue?
(3) Will it be
turned on again?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I am the person responsible for ordering that billboard to be switched off.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
believe that was the right thing to do at the time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
have said that it will not be switched on again until I am satisfied that all
due process has been followed to ensure its safety. The deal regarding APN
involves more than just the billboard at Bull Creek station; it involves a
number across the freeway area. All the evidence suggests that they are fine. I
was unsatisfied with this one for a couple of reasons. One is that we are
actually going through a change —
Mr R.H. Cook : You
didn't do a road safety audit.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
No, a safety audit had been undertaken.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We are going through change in the way our lanes merge. I have
said we are doing a project for smarter roads. I have always said in this house
that we need to not only spend money on building better infrastructure, roads
and public transport, but also build smarter public transport and smarter
roads. One of the investigations we have gone through—we ran a trial on
Kwinana Freeway—was into the on-ramps on Kwinana Freeway and adopting
the UK model of merging. This will involve changes to the lanes and we will be
spending $8.5 million on changes to the lanes on Kwinana and Mitchell Freeways
to ensure that traffic merges. I wanted to firstly make sure that that work had
been undertaken before we even considered switching on the lights on the
billboard so that people adjusted to that travel. Secondly, I did not believe
enough work had been done around the illumination of that sign and the
frequency of the ads. To me they were occurring too quickly and it was too
bright. I have requested more work to be done in that space, and all the
reports I have had to date are that we will proceed with advertising signs down
the freeway because of the revenue they generate, and there is not a problem
about the safety of drivers. I am waiting for the final report from Main Roads
and I will act once I receive that final report.
I am the person responsible for ordering that billboard to be switched off.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
believe that was the right thing to do at the time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
have said that it will not be switched on again until I am satisfied that all
due process has been followed to ensure its safety. The deal regarding APN
involves more than just the billboard at Bull Creek station; it involves a
number across the freeway area. All the evidence suggests that they are fine. I
was unsatisfied with this one for a couple of reasons. One is that we are
actually going through a change —
Mr R.H. Cook : You
didn't do a road safety audit.
Mr D.C. NALDER :
No, a safety audit had been undertaken.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We are going through change in the way our lanes merge. I have
said we are doing a project for smarter roads. I have always said in this house
that we need to not only spend money on building better infrastructure, roads
and public transport, but also build smarter public transport and smarter
roads. One of the investigations we have gone through—we ran a trial on
Kwinana Freeway—was into the on-ramps on Kwinana Freeway and adopting
the UK model of merging. This will involve changes to the lanes and we will be
spending $8.5 million on changes to the lanes on Kwinana and Mitchell Freeways
to ensure that traffic merges. I wanted to firstly make sure that that work had
been undertaken before we even considered switching on the lights on the
billboard so that people adjusted to that travel. Secondly, I did not believe
enough work had been done around the illumination of that sign and the
frequency of the ads. To me they were occurring too quickly and it was too
bright. I have requested more work to be done in that space, and all the
reports I have had to date are that we will proceed with advertising signs down
the freeway because of the revenue they generate, and there is not a problem
about the safety of drivers. I am waiting for the final report from Main Roads
and I will act once I receive that final report.
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