Local Labor MP Greg Warren has a challenge for the Berejikilian Government over Appin Road, which has claimed the lives of 25 people in 17 years.
“The question I have for the government is simple – how many more deaths on Appin Road will it take before they get serious about committing the funds necessary to upgrade the road?”
Mr Warren was speaking after NSW Labor reaffirmed its $50 million commitment to the upgrade of Appin Road as part of opposition leader Luke Foley’s budget reply speech.
The commitment dwarfs the Berejiklian Government’s meagre $4.5 million allocation to Appin Road in Tuesday’s State Budget.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I’ve long been a campaigner for the upgrade of Appin Road, as far back as when I used to drive coal trucks along Appin Road myself many years ago,’’ the local MP said.[/social_quote]
“We saw the Federal Government provide the first $5 million of their promised $50 million upgrade in this year’s federal budget, but shamefully in their budget this week the State Government did not allocate any additional funds of their own to this death trap of a road.’’
NSW Labor’s funding will be additional to the bipartisan commitment of $50 million in last year’s federal election campaign, taking the total amount of funding allocated to the upgrade to $100 million – if Labor wins the next election in 2019.
The funding would kick-start the long overdue upgrade of Appin Road, which was recognised by the NRMA in 2016 as being one of the most dangerous roads in NSW.
With the NSW Government’s Greater Macarthur Land Release set to see in excess of 50,000 new homes built between Campbelltown and the Illawarra in the coming decade, the upgrade of Appin Road will be an important part of the infrastructure plan to accompany this rapid urban growth.
Labor’s commitment comes off the back of relentless campaigning for upgrades from Labor MPs in Macarthur and the Illawarra, including a petition signed by thousands of residents from the regions.
“Each day, thousands of commuters make the journey down Appin Road,’’ says Labor’s shadow treasurer Ryan Park.
“It is one of the most dangerous roads in the region and the site of far too many fatalities.
“That’s why I’m proud to stand up for the students and workers who rely on this road.
“Appin Road is a vital link between Western Sydney and the Illawarra.
“It is dangerous. It is a blackspot and has been the spot of many fatalities.
“Labor is promising a better alternative.
“Communities at both ends of this notorious road have been calling on the state Government for upgrades for too long.
“The Government needs to stop sitting on their hands.
“With increased development in the area, more and more people are using this road.
“It is vital that the infrastructure is improved to meet the demand,’’ Mr Park said.
More wildlife carnage as well ?
Appin Road is not getting the funding, so NO more Development that adds cars to it. Developments being planned for Mt. Gilead and Appin should be stopped. And plans for Roads that feed more cars onto Appin Road, such as Spring Farm Link & Georges River Parkway joining south of Rosemeadow should be stopped. It is simple. It is wrong that there is not going to be a proper Road upgrade, but at least, there wont be thousands of extra cars adding to our already polluted air. Yes, our air is already ozone saturated & more Petrol & Diesel fumes from vehicles could make it really toxic. YOU WONT SEE IT, YOU WONT FEEL IT, BUT YOU WILL BE BREATHING IT IN. Campbelltown council and State Government know this, because of Air Studies done since the 1990s, including the one commissioned by Campbelltown council to stop the Leafs Gully Power plant. Anyone, interested please read “Peer review of Air Quality Assessment” by Atmoerspic Solution 20th April 2009. It is available from Campbelltown Counci.
Appin Road is not getting the funding, so NO more Development that adds cars to it. Developments being planned for Mt. Gilead and Appin should be stopped. And plans for Roads that feed more cars onto Appin Road, such as Spring Farm Link and Georges River Parkway joining south of Rosemeadow should be stopped.
It is simple. It is wrong that there is not going to be a proper road upgrade, but at least, there won’t be thousands of extra cars adding to our already polluted air. Yes, our air is already ozone saturated and more petrol and diesel fumes from vehicles could make it really toxic.
YOU WONT SEE IT, YOU WONT FEEL IT, BUT YOU WILL BE BREATHING IT IN.
Campbelltown council and State Government know this, because of Air Studies done since the 1990s, including the one commissioned by Campbelltown council to stop the Leafs Gully Power plant. Anyone, interested please read “Peer review of Air Quality Assessment” by Atmospheric Solutions, 20th April 2009. It is available from Campbelltown Council.