❓ Opposition MP McGowan questions Transport Minister Nalder on alleged broken promises regarding road projects identified in an RAC report. Minister Nalder defends the government's record on road infrastructure investment, citing numerous ongoing and planned projects.
AnsweredQoN 937Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROYAL
AUTOMOBILE CLUB — RISKY ROADS REPORT
937. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to four key road safety issues identified in the RAC
risky roads report—namely, the grade separation of Reid Highway and
Malaga Drive to be completed by 2014–15; passing lanes on Great Eastern
Highway between Coolgardie and Southern Cross to be completed by 2017; the
closure of tier 3 rail lines, which is increasing the number of trucks,
damaging the road surface and risking lives; and the $70 million reduction in
road funding to local government.
(1) Why did the minister break his promises on each of these
issues?
(2) When will the minister deliver on each of these election
commitments?
AUTOMOBILE CLUB — RISKY ROADS REPORT
937. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to four key road safety issues identified in the RAC
risky roads report—namely, the grade separation of Reid Highway and
Malaga Drive to be completed by 2014–15; passing lanes on Great Eastern
Highway between Coolgardie and Southern Cross to be completed by 2017; the
closure of tier 3 rail lines, which is increasing the number of trucks,
damaging the road surface and risking lives; and the $70 million reduction in
road funding to local government.
(1) Why did the minister break his promises on each of these
issues?
(2) When will the minister deliver on each of these election
commitments?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I think I could be here for the whole of question time, given the amount of
work that this government is undertaking across road and rail. I was a little
surprised by the article on the front page, given that the government was not
asked to comment and was not involved with it. There are some factual errors in
the article, which is a little disappointing, such as Alexander Drive not being
dual lane, when, in fact, it is. This government is undertaking and delivering
on its promise to make traffic and congestion a priority in this term of
government. I am pleased to be part of this portfolio, because we are tackling
the issues of a transforming and rapidly growing city.
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for
Midland!
Mr D.C. NALDER :
This government is spending record amounts of money on traffic and congestion.
I looked up the RAC report and saw a number of the local roads mentioned. We
initiated an agreement with local governments. This year $176 million is
available to local governments to spend on local roads and traffic issues.
Local governments also have access to other grants, both federal and state,
whether it is blackspot funding or other federal grants to improve local roads.
No other government has ever undertaken as much as this government has
currently undertaken when it comes to delivering on state roads. I will just
name a few projects, because I do not want to take up all of question time and
incur the Speaker's wrath. We are delivering the $1 billion Gateway WA
project and tackling the state's number one blackspot. The RAC had 5 000
people tell it what intersections they consider to be urgent, I see those, and
I believe we need to continue to focus on those—do not get me wrong—but
the state's number one blackspot with the most incidents and accidents
is the intersection of Horrie Miller Drive and Tonkin Highway and we are in the
process of grade separating it. We know that the intersection of Roe Highway
and Berkshire Road, out in the member for Forrestfield's electorate,
has an accident every 10 days. That intersection is funded in the Gateway
project. The Gateway project is the largest project Main Roads has ever
undertaken in this state, and, guess what, we are now progressing north. A number
of issues were raised in this report about Ellenbrook. Specifically for those
people in Ellenbrook, we will deliver the NorthLink WA project. At the end of
this year, we are going out to tender to deliver grade separations on four interchanges
at Morley Drive, Collier and Benara Roads and Reid Highway. Those tenders will
be out this year. We will then push forward with another billion-dollar project
to create a freeway system all the way through to Muchea that will benefit
constituents in Ellenbrook in a number of ways. Not only will they have a
freeway to utilise, but it will take pressure off Great Northern Highway, Lord
Street and West Swan Road. This government has undertaken considerable amounts
of work—another billion-dollar project. I have not even come to Freight
Link, which will shift hundreds of trucks off the roads. This government is
undertaking huge investments in roads, and we will continue to do so.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! Member for Willagee!
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
know the city will continue to grow and transform, and we know there are a
number of works that we need to continue, and we will continue to deliver on
them.
I think I could be here for the whole of question time, given the amount of
work that this government is undertaking across road and rail. I was a little
surprised by the article on the front page, given that the government was not
asked to comment and was not involved with it. There are some factual errors in
the article, which is a little disappointing, such as Alexander Drive not being
dual lane, when, in fact, it is. This government is undertaking and delivering
on its promise to make traffic and congestion a priority in this term of
government. I am pleased to be part of this portfolio, because we are tackling
the issues of a transforming and rapidly growing city.
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for
Midland!
Mr D.C. NALDER :
This government is spending record amounts of money on traffic and congestion.
I looked up the RAC report and saw a number of the local roads mentioned. We
initiated an agreement with local governments. This year $176 million is
available to local governments to spend on local roads and traffic issues.
Local governments also have access to other grants, both federal and state,
whether it is blackspot funding or other federal grants to improve local roads.
No other government has ever undertaken as much as this government has
currently undertaken when it comes to delivering on state roads. I will just
name a few projects, because I do not want to take up all of question time and
incur the Speaker's wrath. We are delivering the $1 billion Gateway WA
project and tackling the state's number one blackspot. The RAC had 5 000
people tell it what intersections they consider to be urgent, I see those, and
I believe we need to continue to focus on those—do not get me wrong—but
the state's number one blackspot with the most incidents and accidents
is the intersection of Horrie Miller Drive and Tonkin Highway and we are in the
process of grade separating it. We know that the intersection of Roe Highway
and Berkshire Road, out in the member for Forrestfield's electorate,
has an accident every 10 days. That intersection is funded in the Gateway
project. The Gateway project is the largest project Main Roads has ever
undertaken in this state, and, guess what, we are now progressing north. A number
of issues were raised in this report about Ellenbrook. Specifically for those
people in Ellenbrook, we will deliver the NorthLink WA project. At the end of
this year, we are going out to tender to deliver grade separations on four interchanges
at Morley Drive, Collier and Benara Roads and Reid Highway. Those tenders will
be out this year. We will then push forward with another billion-dollar project
to create a freeway system all the way through to Muchea that will benefit
constituents in Ellenbrook in a number of ways. Not only will they have a
freeway to utilise, but it will take pressure off Great Northern Highway, Lord
Street and West Swan Road. This government has undertaken considerable amounts
of work—another billion-dollar project. I have not even come to Freight
Link, which will shift hundreds of trucks off the roads. This government is
undertaking huge investments in roads, and we will continue to do so.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! Member for Willagee!
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
know the city will continue to grow and transform, and we know there are a
number of works that we need to continue, and we will continue to deliver on
them.
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