Member for Port Macquarie, Robert Dwyer last night (Tuesday) used a speech in Parliament to call on the Minns Government to urgently fund planning to upgrade the Oxley Highway between the Wrights Road and Lake Road roundabouts which has become this area’s biggest traffic bottleneck.
“Residents of the Port Macquarie electorate have endured years of frustration, delay, and disruption due to the chronic congestion at the Wrights Road and Lake Road roundabouts – a key section of the Oxley Highway corridor.
“These intersections are not just a local inconvenience, it is a critical infrastructure failure that affects the daily lives of thousands of people. With over 20,000 vehicle movements each day, and 15,000 new homes planned across the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, the roundabouts are operating well beyond their intended capacity,” Mr Dwyer said.
“Residents face increasing travel times, with projections showing peak-hour delays could rise by 20 minutes by 2030, and up to 40 minutes by 2040 if no action is taken.
“Despite repeated calls from the former Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams, local residents, community leaders and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the NSW Government has failed to allocate funding for this vital upgrade in its most recent budget. This omission is deeply concerning and sends a message that regional infrastructure needs, for rapidly growing communities, are being overlooked.
“I acknowledge recent meetings with Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison and I continue to urge the Minister and Premier Minns to listen to the voices of the Port Macquarie electorate,” Mr Dwyer said.
“With a committed $264 million upgrade to the Port Macquarie Base Hospital, which is part of this precinct, we just can’t wait until the problem becomes unmanageable. We need to act now to ensure Port Macquarie remains vibrant, connected, and liveable.
“If the State Government can allocate an unbudgeted $5.5 million for a sound wall in Coffs Harbour I’m sure they have the capacity to fund planning and a business case for the upgrade of the Oxley Highway!
“The people of Port Macquarie deserve better, they deserve safe, efficient roads. They deserve a Government that listens and acts. Let this be the moment we turn frustration into fruition,” Mr Dwyer concluded.
For a full Hansard transcript, go to www.parliament.nsw.gov.au
