Alstonville bypass a priority — Gulaptis
Page Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis has declared building the Alstonville bypass is his top campaign priority, along with fixing the North Coast hospitals crisis.
“Successive State Labor Governments have promised Alstonville residents their bypass without ever delivering. Larry Anthony secured $12 million in Federal funding to make it happen, but Labor cashed the cheque and walked away from the project,” Mr Gulaptis said.
“Labor has just announced a $7 billion road construction program for Sydney, which is enough to fund over 100 Alstonville bypasses.”
Mr Gulaptis said he had been working for several months on ways to bypass Labor’s Alstonville bypass inaction.
“This is not easy, because it is a State Government road. The options are either hand the project and the cash to Ballina Shire Council or give more funding to NSW Labor but with a guarantee, this time, that they will actually build it,” he said.
“The Bruxner Highway at Alstonville is not only a nightmare for local residents and schoolchildren dodging B-Doubles, it is vital for working families commuting between Lismore and Ballina.
“I have had many meetings in Alstonville on this subject with local campaigner Bob Wilson, Ballina Nationals MP Don Page and many other residents from the area.
“They are furious about Labor’s repeated broken promises to them. They no longer care how it is fixed or who pays for it, they just want it done and I agree with them.”
