Rudd brings gifts, and backs a winner
He came bearing gifts, and he left with one of his own.
Labor leader Kevin Rudd today paid a surprise visit to the Page electorate, and promised almost half a billion dollars for the Ballina bypass and $90 million for the much-longed-for Alstonville bypass.
Mr Rudd and Page candidate Janelle Saffin announced that a Rudd Labor Government would invest in five major road projects to make road travel safer and quicker for the people of northern New South Wales.
“Our commitment is first and foremost about saving lives on the Pacific Highway,” they said.
“NRMA crash data for the period 1996 to 2005 shows that on the Pacific Highway, there were 9740 crashes; 3778 injuries; and 326 deaths.
“Roads are also crucial to the regional economy of NSW which is why a major investment is needed to fix the deficiencies in the Pacific Highway to make it quicker and safer.
“Forty per cent of the 680-kilometre Pacific Highway is still two lanes – and this needs to become dual carriageway.”
Federal Labor’s commitment today includes five major road projects for Northern NSW:
$446 million to build the Ballina bypass project, upgrading 12.4km of dual carriageway road extending from south of Ballina at the intersection of the Bruxner and Pacific highways to north of Ballina at the intersection with Ross Lane at Tintenbar
$335 million duplication from Tintenbar to Ewingsdale, linking the Ballina Bypass from Sandy Flat Road to the existing dual carriageway at Ewingsdale
$90 million to build the Alstonville Bypass on the Bruxner Highway – linking Ballina and Lismore
$460 million to get the duplication of Sapphire to Woolgoolga built, starting with $80 million for major safety upgrades, then $180 million for traffic flow improvements and $200 million to complete the duplication of this section. (The project extends 26km from Korora, north of Coffs Harbour, to the Arrawarra Beach Road turnoff.); and
$210 million to complete the long-awaited Sextons Hill upgrade at Banora Point in the Tweed.
“Federal Labor is committed to funding and delivering all of these five key projects – rather than just talking about them like the Howard Government does,” Mr Rudd said.
“Federal Labor’s down-payment today is allocated from AusLink II and will cover the period from 2009 to 2014.
“In the coming weeks Federal Labor will have further announcements in relation to improving the Pacific Highway.”
Mr Rudd spent the afternoon at the Ballina RSL Club and watched the Melbourne Cup.
That’s where he picked up his ‘gift’ for the day: He backed Efficient in the Melbourne Cup. The Cup winner paid $22.
Meanwhile, Ms Saffin says she is very happy with Mr Rudd’s visit to Lismore and Ballina today.
“Kevin Rudd has shown that he is listening to this electorate and is aware of the priorities here,” she said.
“He has committed a Rudd Labor government to work with the State Government to fix the Pacific Highway and get on with the Alstonville Bypass.
“The Alstonville community has lobbied long and hard for their bypass, and I’m very pleased to be able to tell them that a Federal Labor government will be able to deliver on the project.”
PICTURE: Labor Leader Kevin Rudd enjoys the excitement of backing the Melbourne Cup winner, along with Page candidate Janelle Saffin, at the Ballina RSL Club today. Picture: DOUG EATON
BELOW: The metropolitan media was there in force.
