MT LINDESAY ROAD A MAJOR FOCUS OF NATIONALS’ URBENVILLE VISIT
July 16, 2013
The Nationals candidate for New England Barnaby Joyce has invited Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport, Darren Chester, and Nationals candidate for Page, Kevin Hogan to meet with local stakeholders in the upgrade of a 42km stretch of Mt Lindesay Road between Legume and Woodenbong.
“The Mt Lindesay Road has been dubbed ‘the worst road in Australia’, but it is clear that the current Labor government has not taken the issue seriously,” Mr Joyce said.
“Truck drivers, school buses, mail vans and families use the road daily and the combination of blind corners, potholes, crumbling edges and uneven verges make it a game of Russian Roulette for drivers every time they venture along it.
“I have driven the road myself and it is absolutely clear that a fatality is only a matter of time unless something is done.”
Mr Joyce said he had been in communication with a number of stakeholders in the issue including the Tenterfield Shire Council, the Urbenville Progress Association and local mail woman Ann Whitfield, who is driving a renewed local campaign for the upgrade.
“Ms Whitfield has kindly offered to take Darren, myself and the Nationals candidate for Page Kevin Hogan for a tour of the worst sections of the road, lending her extensive personal knowledge to help navigate the pitfalls,” he said.
“In addition to discussing the issue with locals at the two community forums, we’re planning to meet with road users as well as representatives from the six local councils that share responsibility for Mt Lindesay Road to discuss proposals for the upgrade.”