❓ Mr. Michel asks about the progress of sealing the Karratha-Tom Price road and other regional road projects. The Minister responds by highlighting the completion of stage 3, renaming the road, job creation, time savings, and criticizes the National Party's past approach to regional road funding.
AnsweredQoN 677Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KARRATHA–TOM
PRICE ROAD — SEALING
677. Mr
K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented investment in regional roads, which has
supported local jobs and local businesses as the state recovers from the
economic impact of COVID-19.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the work underway to seal the Karratha–Tom
Price road and outline what completion of stage 3 has meant for drivers in the
Pilbara?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on this government's other investment in job–creating
road projects in regional WA?
PRICE ROAD — SEALING
677. Mr
K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented investment in regional roads, which has
supported local jobs and local businesses as the state recovers from the
economic impact of COVID-19.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the work underway to seal the Karratha–Tom
Price road and outline what completion of stage 3 has meant for drivers in the
Pilbara?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on this government's other investment in job–creating
road projects in regional WA?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) �I
thank the member for Pilbara for that question. This project got underway
because of the member. His advocacy for both the project and the naming process
has achieved an excellent result. Last week, the Premier, the member for Pilbara and I were opening stage 3 of what was
known as the Karratha–Tom Price road but, of course, led by the member for Pilbara and in consultation
with the local Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, has been named the Manuwarra Red Dog Highway. That name has been well supported by the Aboriginal people in the area and across the
state. It highlights that this road will not only save time a nd improve
safety, but also will open up new tourism opportunities for the entire area.
All those people who attended the opening
were so excited about the opportunities, in particular the economic
opportunities, that this will create. Red Dog, of course, refers to the
kelpie that was known for his travels through the Pilbara in the 1970s. The
member for Pilbara led the community consultation and the name ''Red Dog
highway'' was first flagged by that member.
�One hundred
direct and indirect jobs were created. The $81 million project sealed 48
kilometres of road. When we talk about time savings, we are pretty proud,
normally, of 10 minutes along a smart freeway. This project will save an hour's
travel time. That is what I would call, not congestion busting, but more a time-saving
project. It will save over an hour's travel. We are now in the process
of planning to deliver stage 4. It has only been a Labor government that has
got this project done. The last Labor government, and now this Labor
government, are the only governments that have actually taken this project
seriously. The National Party did nothing. Again, I am not sure where they are—we
have one and a half members of the National Party here today. Where are they
today?
Several members
interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
It is technically half.
A member
interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Geraldton, because he was half Liberal, half you know! Over the term, the
member for Geraldton has been half a member of the National Party.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : A shandy.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Yes, a shandy!
Mr I.C. Blayney : Two members,
not one.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I like your
thinking, member for Geraldton!
The former Leader of the National
Party Brendon Grylls said it really was not up to royalties for regions to
build roads; it should not be building roads
in regional WA. Labor has a very different philosophy. It is about creating
local jobs, improving safety and also saving time for everyone in Western
Australia. This project has been incredible to see; it really has been an
exciting time. Of course, we only went out there in October last year to start
the project, and to have it finished while we were going through a COVID-19
crisis and, of course, handling all that asbestos along the road too, given it
was a Wittenoom track, is a huge achievement. I thank all the workers who
delivered this great project. Of course, we are also looking forward to
starting and finishing stage 4.
thank the member for Pilbara for that question. This project got underway
because of the member. His advocacy for both the project and the naming process
has achieved an excellent result. Last week, the Premier, the member for Pilbara and I were opening stage 3 of what was
known as the Karratha–Tom Price road but, of course, led by the member for Pilbara and in consultation
with the local Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, has been named the Manuwarra Red Dog Highway. That name has been well supported by the Aboriginal people in the area and across the
state. It highlights that this road will not only save time a nd improve
safety, but also will open up new tourism opportunities for the entire area.
All those people who attended the opening
were so excited about the opportunities, in particular the economic
opportunities, that this will create. Red Dog, of course, refers to the
kelpie that was known for his travels through the Pilbara in the 1970s. The
member for Pilbara led the community consultation and the name ''Red Dog
highway'' was first flagged by that member.
�One hundred
direct and indirect jobs were created. The $81 million project sealed 48
kilometres of road. When we talk about time savings, we are pretty proud,
normally, of 10 minutes along a smart freeway. This project will save an hour's
travel time. That is what I would call, not congestion busting, but more a time-saving
project. It will save over an hour's travel. We are now in the process
of planning to deliver stage 4. It has only been a Labor government that has
got this project done. The last Labor government, and now this Labor
government, are the only governments that have actually taken this project
seriously. The National Party did nothing. Again, I am not sure where they are—we
have one and a half members of the National Party here today. Where are they
today?
Several members
interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI :
It is technically half.
A member
interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Geraldton, because he was half Liberal, half you know! Over the term, the
member for Geraldton has been half a member of the National Party.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : A shandy.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Yes, a shandy!
Mr I.C. Blayney : Two members,
not one.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I like your
thinking, member for Geraldton!
The former Leader of the National
Party Brendon Grylls said it really was not up to royalties for regions to
build roads; it should not be building roads
in regional WA. Labor has a very different philosophy. It is about creating
local jobs, improving safety and also saving time for everyone in Western
Australia. This project has been incredible to see; it really has been an
exciting time. Of course, we only went out there in October last year to start
the project, and to have it finished while we were going through a COVID-19
crisis and, of course, handling all that asbestos along the road too, given it
was a Wittenoom track, is a huge achievement. I thank all the workers who
delivered this great project. Of course, we are also looking forward to
starting and finishing stage 4.
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