Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid has accused State Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch of scaremongering over his claims the Australian Government is stalling works on the Avoca Dr upgrade.
Crouch said the Government has subjected the upgrade to a national audit, resulting in a three-month delay on works.
“Transport for New South Wales has confirmed that the Federal Government has included the Avoca Dr upgrade in a three-month audit, alongside several other major infrastructure projects on the Central Coast,” Crouch said.
“Before even one shovel has gone into the ground the Federal Government has pulled the handbrake on this major road upgrade.”
Crouch said no timeline for the project has been confirmed, meaning that committed funding is not being delivered.
“It has been more than a year and half since funding was committed by the Federal Government for the Avoca Dr upgrade, and this update from Transport for New South Wales reinforces the fact that funding is not being provided to start the necessary planning and consultation,” he said.
He called on Reid for answers.
“Our community deserves answers, and that is why I have written to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and the Federal Member for Robertson seeking an explanation on why the upgrade is subject to a three-month audit before any works have begun,” he said.
“I have also written to the Minister for Regional Roads Jenny Aitchison seeking confirmation that the State Government’s $30M commitment will also be delivered as part of this year’s delayed budget announcements.”
But Reid said the Government has not suspended its $100M pledge to upgrade Avoca Dr through Kincumber.
“I have written to (Mr) Crouch to again confirm the Federal Government’s commitment to the upgrade,” he said.
“As this infrastructure project was an election commitment, it is not subject to the Federal Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program Strategic Review, (to) which the Member for Terrigal has tried to link (it) for political gameplay.
“The review was initiated following the former Federal Liberal Government’s infrastructure spending mismanagement, which saw investment in hundreds of infrastructure projects that were not nationally significant and failed to deliver appropriate economic and social benefits.
“I would urge Mr Crouch to stop scaremongering and lying to his community on this matter.”
Reid said Crouch should be concerned instead with pressing issues such as the proposed Wamberal seawall, the future of the Empire Bay Boatshed and the Wards Hill Rd and Empire Bay Dr intersection safety issue.
“One would think Mr Crouch would have re-evaluated his priorities following the recent NSW State Election, where the State seat of Terrigal went from being a safe Liberal seat to being now a very marginal Liberal seat,” Reid said.
Terry Collins