❓ Mr. Blayney asks about the timeline for announcing the Geraldton Heavy Vehicle Bypass route decision, given community concerns about Route 1. The Minister's response is delayed by political accusations and the need for careful consideration.
AnsweredQoN 603Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GERALDTON HEAVY VEHICLE
BYPASS
603. Mr
I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the importance of this decision to the Geraldton community and the level of concern about the choice of route 1 in the
community, when does the minister think we will get an announcement?
BYPASS
603. Mr
I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the importance of this decision to the Geraldton community and the level of concern about the choice of route 1 in the
community, when does the minister think we will get an announcement?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker —
Mr M. McGowan : What is your
view?
Mr I.C. Blayney : I do not
support route 1.
Mr M. McGowan : What do you
support?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Whatever the
mayor tells him to!
Let us go through it —
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Whatever the
mayor tells him to!
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : One wannabe
candidate and one who is the current candidate.
As I said, it is far too premature
to launch this sort of political campaign. The other shires are very keen to work
with the state government, as they always have been. I remember meeting with a number
of them saying that it is difficult. Determining these types of routes is
probably one of the toughest decisions a transport minister has to make. We
need to ensure that some of the objectives about freight efficiency are met and
that landowners and all the communities along the way respect it. As I said,
there are always debates.
Main Roads has been working on this
very diligently. Its report landed in my office on Monday. By that stage, there
was a Facebook comment attacking us for our decision! That was even before the
report landed in my office. Launching political campaigns before we have had
the time to consider all the different factors, and for me to consult with
relevant stakeholders, is not the right thing to do. That is why under eight
and a half years of the previous government it never built anything. All it did
was launch political campaigns and it did not work to get the right outcome!
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Birthday boy, I call
you to order for the first time! Members, I am on my feet. Member for Armadale,
I call you to order.
Mr M. McGowan : What is your
view?
Mr I.C. Blayney : I do not
support route 1.
Mr M. McGowan : What do you
support?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Whatever the
mayor tells him to!
Let us go through it —
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Whatever the
mayor tells him to!
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : One wannabe
candidate and one who is the current candidate.
As I said, it is far too premature
to launch this sort of political campaign. The other shires are very keen to work
with the state government, as they always have been. I remember meeting with a number
of them saying that it is difficult. Determining these types of routes is
probably one of the toughest decisions a transport minister has to make. We
need to ensure that some of the objectives about freight efficiency are met and
that landowners and all the communities along the way respect it. As I said,
there are always debates.
Main Roads has been working on this
very diligently. Its report landed in my office on Monday. By that stage, there
was a Facebook comment attacking us for our decision! That was even before the
report landed in my office. Launching political campaigns before we have had
the time to consider all the different factors, and for me to consult with
relevant stakeholders, is not the right thing to do. That is why under eight
and a half years of the previous government it never built anything. All it did
was launch political campaigns and it did not work to get the right outcome!
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Birthday boy, I call
you to order for the first time! Members, I am on my feet. Member for Armadale,
I call you to order.
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