Questions Without Notice

Mr PETER BESSELING: My question is directed to the Minister for Roads. What funding support will the State Government give to the communities of Camden Haven for the urgent replacement of the Stingray Creek bridge?

Mr DAVID BORGER: I thank the member for Port Macquarie for his question. I recall the member bringing this matter to my attention when I first became Minister for Roads. In fact, I recall visiting the site and looking at the bridge with the Minister for Local Government, and the member's request and the administrator's request to assist with that particular project. For the benefit of the House, Stingray Creek bridge is under the management of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. I am told that the bridge serves as a primary link between North Haven and Laurieton, south of Port Macquarie, and it carries about 9,000 vehicles every day. This bridge is in a severe state of disrepair and the council has been forced to impose a load limit of 18 tonnes, restricting commerce in the area.

Mr Andrew Fraser: Your administrator wouldn't fix it.

Mr DAVID BORGER: The member is back from London—he is back from the Benny Hill school of governance in London. I am glad he is back to talk about local issues.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Coffs Harbour will cease interjecting. I call the member for Coffs Harbour to order.

Mr DAVID BORGER: I am sure a lot was learned about governance, visiting the Queen.

Mr Andrew Fraser: You could learn a hell of a lot over there, young boy.

Mr DAVID BORGER: You should listen to Barry. That is the fact. Barry wanted you to stay and you should have stayed.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Coffs Harbour to order for the second time.

Mr DAVID BORGER: The member for Port Macquarie tells me that this has had major impacts for bus and truck operations in the area. Based on engineering advice I have received from the Roads and Traffic Authority, I also understand that it is not viable to make repairs to change the bridge to improve its load and capacity. It is clearly apparent, given the history of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, that it was too busy spending millions of dollars on the Glasshouse in the main part of town rather than attending to essential infrastructure.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Murrumbidgee to order for the second time.

Mr DAVID BORGER: I appreciate the advocacy of the local member in raising this matter, bringing it to my attention and trying to find a solution for the local community, despite the many delays that that council had in working out a solution for this bridge. In recognition of the local and regional significance of the Stingray Creek bridge to the Port Macquarie area, the New South Wales Government previously committed a special grant of $3.2 million to assist the council to replace the bridge. Now that the council has completed its environmental assessment and design for the bridge, the cost of replacing the bridge is approximately $10 million to $15 million, a cost that would have been less if they did not build the Glasshouse. They have had those costs verified by the Roads and Traffic Authority.

At a recent meeting with the member for Port Macquarie and the administrator of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, I obtained a commitment that the council can build the bridge for $12 million. Based on this commitment and given the importance of maintaining access for those 9,000 motorists each day, I am prepared to provide an additional $2.8 million on top of the $3.2 million already committed to council to provide a 50 per cent contribution towards the replacement of the Stingray Creek bridge. However, I want to make it clear that this additional $2.8 million contribution will need to be offset by the deferral of other non-critical activities from the program in the Port Macquarie area. I am happy to work through these details with the member for Port Macquarie and the Roads and Traffic Authority. 

[Full Transcript]