Skip to main content
Home
  • The Legislative Assembly meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Assembly sit 16/04/2024
  • The Legislative Council meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Council sit 16/04/2024
  • The Public Administration meets on 08/04/2024 (10:00 AM)
    Committee meet 08/04/2024

Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 266 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 22 June 2021 by Ms R.S. Stephens

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

ROADS — GREAT SOUTHERN

266. Ms R.S. STEPHENS to the Minister for Transport:

I refer to the record investment in regional roads and road safety across Western Australia, including the upgrades to South Coast Highway and the construction of the Albany ring-road. Can the minister outline to the house how these projects have helped to create more jobs and support local businesses and also what these investments will mean for road users across Albany and the great southern?

Ms R. SAFFIOTI replied:

I thank the member for Albany for that question. Last week, I was in Albany with the member for Albany inspecting some of the projects that are underway. I have to start by acknowledging some of the damage that has occurred in Albany and its surrounds because of the very significant weather conditions over the past few days and provide the house with an update. The section of South Coast Highway from George Street to Marbelup Road was reopened to all traffic, under speed restrictions, at approximately 11.15 am today. South Coast Highway remains closed between Marbelup Road and Denmark–Mount Barker Road. A detour is in place. We will work as hard as possible to get that road open, noting the significant severe weather conditions.

When I was in Albany, we were discussing that it has been the wettest time in that area since records began. It has been very wet in Albany, which has made delivering some of these new projects a bit of a challenge. We were there inspecting the new South Coast Highway works and we still hope to finish those total works by the end of July. Work on the South Coast Highway was a significant commitment that we gave at the 2017 election—$30 million to reconstruct the road, in parts, and also to construct new passing lanes. I am really pleased to see the improvement that will provide not only to Albany residents but also the farmers and producers in the area who will be able to travel along that road more safely.

We were also updated on the Albany ring-road. I note that construction has commenced and the pouring of concrete is underway for the footings and abutment walls at the side of the new bridge over Albany Highway. Over 35 local subcontractors have been engaged. Again, it is about employing local people, meeting some of the young local graduates in the area and making sure that we support freight efficiency and productivity in the area.

I want to put on record my thanks to the former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack for his contribution to projects in Western Australia and the strong partnership that we had. I always found him a pleasant —

Mr P. Papalia: Respectful.

Ms R. SAFFIOTI: — and respectful person who was very interested in WA. He did come to WA, although he did not always look me up. I know that he looked up members of the Nationals WA, of course. He came to Western Australia and he was very keen to understand WA's challenges and our projects. I acknowledge the federal government's contribution under the former Deputy Prime Minister.

We now have a new Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. He says that he is a changed person. I hope he is and I hope that he takes an interest in WA, because I have never seen the new Deputy Prime Minister take an interest in WA. I have never seen him care about WA or its rail or road industry, so I hope that he is a changed person and takes an interest in supporting WA, our jobs and infrastructure throughout state.