Campbelltown MP Greg Warren has slammed the Baird Liberal Government for not fulfilling a 2015 election campaign promise to provide $5.5 million to improve safety along Appin Road.
He says that the government had again ignored the pleas of Campbelltown residents and stakeholders who campaigned for Appin Road upgrades in the 2016/17 budget.
“The NSW Government has failed to facilitate the growth and above all the safety of those moving towards the Greater Macarthur Land Release, which will result in 35,000 new homes between Campbelltown and Appin,’’ Mr Warren said.
“If this road is already notorious across the state for being a perilous trap, I am concerned what tragedies Appin Road will cause with this projected influx.
“I make no apologies for doing everything I can and as much as I can for as long as it takes to ensure Appin Road gets the attention it requires.
“I have said it once, and I will continue saying it until the NSW Government decides to take appropriate action.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I am disappointed that the Baird Liberal Government has again failed to provide on their election promise of $5.5 million, yet above all I am disappointed for our community, who have fought to try and secure a safer Appin Road.’’[/social_quote]
Mr Warren has campaigned with the community for Appin Road safety upgrades and improvements from the NSW Government for five years.
He used a Private Members Statement and moved a motion in State Parliament earlier this year to call on the government to urgently address the safety issues on Appin Road.
Thousands sign petition on Appin Road
Mr Warren has also started a petition on Appin Road, which has already claimed two lives this year.
Thousands of local residents have signed the petition, which urges the NSW Government to implement safety upgrades on Appin Road as a matter of priority.
Mr Warren said a paltry sum of $800,000 for traffic planning was allocated for Appin Road.
“But there is $3.4million set aside for resurfacing works on Appin Road.
“As a further insult, the Budget papers fail to outline a timeline for the works and how this allocation will help improve safety for commuters.
“There are a multitude of factors that concern commuter safety, such as poor lighting, a lack of safety barriers, lack of a buffer zone and the poorly surfaced roads.’’
not enough fatalities for them? Mustn’t be a VIP area.
This is simply not true.
The NSW Government is continuing to work with key stakeholders including the NSW Police Force, councils and community members to deliver on the Government’s commitment to improve safety on Appin Road.
Since 2011 the NSW Government has invested around $20 million in projects to improve safety on Appin Road.
Work is continuing on the $1.8 million resurfacing work between Kellerman Drive and Brian Road and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting.
Work is progressing on a $6.35 million project to realign Appin Road for around four kilometres west of the M1 Princes Motorway junction at Bulli Tops. This was identified as a high crash location in the 2014 Road Safety Review and work is aimed at reducing the number and severity of crashes, particularly head-on and run-off-road crashes. The project is due to be completed early next year, weather permitting.
A comprehensive draft corridor strategy to identify further road safety and traffic improvements on Appin Road for the next 20 years from M1 Motorway at Bulli Tops to 300 metres south of Kellerman Drive, Rosemeadow is almost complete and will be released by the end of the year.
If articles regarding Wollondilly are being done perhaps seeking my comment might help as opposed to seeking the member for Campbelltown who is not part of the government.