Oxley Highway Upgrade
OXLEY HIGHWAY UPGRADE
Mr JEFFERY (Oxley) [10.39]: I bring to the attention of the House the need for the upgrading of the Oxley Highway, which runs through Wauchope and links the coast with the tablelands. That highway, from its intersection with the Pacific Highway east of Wauchope and west to its intersection with the New England Highway at Bendemeer, has a total length of approximately 220 kilometres. It is a vital link for tourism, students of the University of New England at Armidale, trucks carrying timber, fuel, cattle, sheep and produce, and a multitude of other commercial and recreational activities. Mount Seaview tourist resort - a magnificent resort and safari tour operation which attracts people from all over the world - depends on this highway. Improved road conditions are vital to its continued success.
Two sections of the Oxley Highway need urgent attention. The first section, which is 11 kilometres from Wauchope, is subject to an 80-kilometre-an-hour speed limit because it is narrow, winding and steep. There are no opportunities for drivers to overtake on this section, which makes it frustrating if they are caught behind a truck. In the second section there is still a piece of single-lane roadway, despite the fact that the original landslip occurred several years ago. It is a very dangerous stretch of road. The surface of the road in this section is in need of attention because it is rough and broken. The section between Tobins Camp and the intersection with Knodingbul Road also needs attention. Perhaps it could be relocated along the old highway. This matter should be given serious consideration.
Other problems on the Oxley Highway include flooding, landslips and bad alignment. Are we to wait until a serious accident occurs before anything is done? Worse still, does someone have to die before something is done? The Roads and Traffic Authority and the State Government must provide more funding for the Oxley Highway to establish overtaking lanes and to improve traffic flow. Snow Costigan, a longstanding resident in the Wauchope area, has been to see me many times about the condition of the Oxley Highway. I have also had representations from the Wauchope Chamber of Commerce. Snow has played an active role in this area over his working life and he has some ideas for rerouting the highway to overcome some of the problems in the Stockyard Creek area.
There are some challenging sections on the Oxley Highway. It traverses mountainous terrain and has hairpin bends over an area of 25 kilometres. The continued growth of the New England and Hastings regions has contributed to an increase in heavy vehicles using the Oxley Highway. This will continue. Much support has been shown for the upgrading of this vital link by Walcha, Hastings and Tamworth councils, Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry, Wauchope Historical Society, Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and many individuals who use this so-called highway for business and pleasure. I am sure that the honourable member for Tamworth will support me in my request for the upgrading of the Oxley Highway.
Unfortunately, the State road network strategy failed to include most of the Oxley Highway in its report. The Oxley Highway provides a significant east-west transport link from Coonabarabran in the west to Port Macquarie in the east. This is acknowledged, in part, by the inclusion of the section from Coonabarabran to Tamworth in the strategic road network. However, the section which, in my opinion, needs the most attention is not included. The strategic road network identifies the importance of providing good transport corridors between the coast and inland New South Wales. Funding for this road is extremely limited. It is obvious that money for improvements to country roads is not a high priority for the current Government. Overtaking lanes would be cost effective because they would result in fewer accidents, less cost to the community and less trauma to individuals.
No-one is denying that the cost of providing overtaking lanes would involve expensive major construction work, but that work needs to be carried out soon. It is acknowledged that road building is an
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expensive undertaking under any circumstances and for funding to be invested in such work it must be given priority and be able to compete with other important works in the State. I am asking the Government to give such a priority to the Oxley Highway. I believe that a deviation such as the one suggested by Mr Costigan, together with improvements west and east of the Mount Seaview area, would generate benefits to road users and the community and would be economically viable. Yesterday I mentioned to the Minister for the Olympics, and Minister for Roads that I would be raising this matter, but the Minister is not able to be present in the Chamber because of a Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games meeting. I ask the Minister for Local Government, who is in the Chamber, to relay my comments to the Minister.