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2009 Budget: South-East NSW Misses Out


2009 Budget: South-East NSW Misses Out

Author: NRMA Motoring & ServicesDate: 16 June 2009

South-east NSW roads including the Princes Highway have largely been ignored in today's NSW Budget.

NRMA Motoring & Services Director Alan Evans said the south-east region of NSW had missed out on much needed road improvement projects in the NSW Budget.

"Ideally, the Kings and Princes Highways should be upgraded to an acceptable standard but improvements to the most dangerous sections of these roads would be a welcome start," Mr Evans said.

"The South Coast received a paltry $8 million of new funding - only $4 million of this was for the Princes Highway.

"Why spend money on a coronial enquiry when the NSW Government ignores its findings? The NSW Government said itself in its Infrastructure Australia submission that $1 billion was required to fix the Princes Highway."

Mr Evans said the $8 million for improvements on the Kings Highway between Queanbeyan and Bungendore was good news however the Snowy Mountains and Monaro Highways received nothing and would continue to be dangerous and slippery roads over winter.

"Any new money committed to road safety and improvements is welcome however the NSW Government is falling too far behind by spending too little too late,"” Mr Evans said.

Mr Evans said local councils who could afford to apply for an interest free loan from the Government's new Local Infrastructure Fund should do so.

"Offering interest free loans to cash-strapped councils may not be the solution to fixing local roads, however if councils can afford to go into further debt to make their roads safer than the NRMA encourages them to apply for the loans," Mr Evans said.

"The Government's $51.9 million investment in NSW tourism and the abolition of stamp duty on the registration of caravans and camper trailers is great news for South Coast holidaymakers.

"As one of the state's largest providers of travel and accommodation services the NRMA is pleased the Government has provided a much-needed boost to the state's tourism industry.

"Campaigns to encourage people to holiday in NSW and easing taxes on caravans and trailers will ultimately benefit local communities that rely so heavily on tourism support."

Contact: Daniel Stanton 0439 133 092

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