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.