Fast-tracking of Pacific Highway upgrade is great news
Great news from NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal that he is pushing to fast-track the upgrade of the Pacific Highway.
Mr Roozendaal is moving to have the upgrade declared Critical Infrastructure.
The Minister says Critical Infrastructure allows timely and efficient delivery of critical infrastructure projects when required, and provides certainty in the delivery of key infrastructure projects.
Basically, he says, this means getting on with the job. A fine example of a project being declared critical infrastructure is the construction of facilities for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Actually, I wonder if we hadn’t held the Olympics, which no doubt cost NSW squillions, would we have an improved highway by now? And a decent hospital system?
That debate is neither here no there now; NSW hosted the Olympics, which most of us enjoyed, despite the costs involved, and perhaps government would argue that there were many positive spin-offs such as world-wide publicity for our tourist industry.
But the reality is that the Pacific Highway remains a horror stretch of road, and it has to be fixed.
Mr Roozendaal says the next step in fast-tracking the upgrade is to have the State Planning Minister recognise the remainder of the upgrade as State Significant. With an election looming next year, that would seem a sure bet.
“Making the Pacific Highway Critical Infrastructure is about getting on with the job and providing as much certainty as possible to North Coast communties and motorists,” Mr Roozendaal said.
We couldn’t agree more!
