MINNS GOVERNMENT HELD TO ACCOUNT OVER OXLEY HIGHWAY GRIDLOCK

MINNS GOVERNMENT HELD TO ACCOUNT OVER OXLEY HIGHWAY GRIDLOCK

Member for Port Macquarie, Robert Dwyer will continue to advocate for the urgent upgrade of the Oxley Highway following the Minns Government admission that the draft business case to upgrade the highway between Wrights Road and Lake Road roundabouts is now complete.  

Speaking during a debate in Parliament last Thursday alongside the Member for Oxley, the Member for Upper Hunter and the Member for Ryde, Mr Dwyer said the daily traffic chaos on the Oxley Highway is not merely an inconvenience, it is a “critical infrastructure failure” that is now threatening lives, local productivity, and access to essential services.

“With over 20,000 vehicle movements every single day and 11,000 new homes planned across the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, this corridor is operating well beyond capacity,” he said.

“What good is a world-class hospital if Ambulances are stuck in traffic, unable to reach patients in time?”

Mr Dwyer said that despite the $264 million upgrade currently underway at Port Macquarie Base Hospital, the surrounding road network has been neglected. Peak-hour delays are expected to increase by up to 20 minutes by 2030 unless urgent planning and design work begins now.

Mr Dwyer criticised the Minns Government for withdrawing $1 million in planning funds after the Federal Government cut its $4 million contribution, calling the decision “not just disappointing, it is dangerous.”

In response, the Parliamentary Secretary for Road, Anna Watson MP said, “In Port Macquarie, we are finalising the business case for staged intersection upgrades along the Oxley Highway between John Oxley Drive and Hastings River Drive.

This will guide future investment to improve safety and travel reliability, particularly at the Wrights Road and Lake Road intersections. The draft business case is complete and currently undergoing an assurance review to ensure it meets Infrastructure NSW requirements.

This process ensures that all viable options have been considered, that the project meets its key objectives, and that it delivers the best value for money for the community. Once assured, the business case will outline preferred options for both Wrights Road and Lake Road, paving the way for funding and construction.” 

“I welcome the announcement that the draft business case is now complete, but I won’t stop fighting for this upgrade until we see construction commence.

“I would like to thank Business Port Macquarie for organising the petition along with the more than 10,000 people who signed it, as well as the almost 26,000 people who watched the “mad as hell” social media video. This helped to send a message to the Minns Government that we mean business when it comes to the upgrade of the Oxley Highway,” Mr Dwyer said.

Media Contact: Chris Bawn or Emma Walker 6584 0977