Labor forges ahead on Pacific Highway Martin Ferguson - Shadow Minister for Urban and Regional Development, Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure

Media Statement - 31 May 2004

A Latham Labor Government will sign a renewed Pacific Highway agreement with the NSW State Government, Shadow Minister for Transport Martin Ferguson and NSW Roads Minister Carl Scully announced today.

“Work on upgrading the Pacific Highway is ongoing and unfinished and a Latham Labor Government will sign a new agreement with the NSW Government as a priority,” Martin Ferguson said.

 “While discussions about the Pacific Highway have been ongoing, negotiations for this new agreement are commencing immediately. I do not want to wait until we are in office to start talking to the state government about this important issue.

“I have asked Carl Scully to provide me with full costings for the rest of the duplication of the Highway so that we can conduct our discussions on a fully informed basis.

“It is my intention to sign an agreement as soon as possible after being sworn in as Federal Minister for Transport,” Mr Ferguson said.

Roads Minister Carl Scully welcomed Mr Ferguson’s announcement.

“Two Labor Ministers, Laurie Brereton and Michael Knight signed the original agreement back in 1995.  I would be delighted to renew the agreement with Martin Ferguson.

“In the spirit of co-operation, I have asked my office and the RTA to begin discussions with Mr Ferguson.  We will be providing him with a large amount of detailed financial and engineering material so we can sign a new agreement soon after the election of a Latham Government.

“I have been calling on John Anderson to sign a new agreement for months.  Of course, we will continue to have discussions with the Federal Government as well.

“This is a substantial step by Martin Ferguson and I congratulate him on his initiative,” Mr Scully said.

"The following projects are those that have been previously identified as the next in line after the current agreement runs out and will form the basis of the negotiations between the Federal ALP and the State Government.

Projects expected to start, but not be completed, by June 2006

• Karuah to Bulahdelah (northern section)
• Brunswick Heads to Yelgun

Projects beyond June 2006 to be negotiated as part of the new agreement include

• Banora Point Deviation (Sexton’s Hill)
• Ballina Bypass
• Bonville Deviation
• Bulahdelah Bypass
• Warrell Creek
• Mooreland to Herons Creek
• Coopernook to Mooreland
• Sapphire to Woolgoolga
• Macksville to Urunga
• Kempsey to Eungai
• Bangalow to St Helena