Road Safety—Regions
Statement
Hon Rod Caddies (8:59 pm): Given how important road trauma is, especially in regional WA, and we have highlighted that over many periods in WA, I thought I would read out some communication I got from a constituent today:
The poor state of our regional roads is a joke. Every three weeks, we take road trips, and nothing ever changes. We recently drove the Great Eastern Highway to Kalgoorlie, and there are massive potholes in the middle of the lane, with a dangerous buildup of tar on the sides. When you have to make way for large, overloaded trucks coming in the opposite direction, you're forced to drive over them. The road from Kalgoorlie to Esperance is getting worse, too. Who at Main Roads approves the shoddy temporary repairs? It's downright dangerous, especially around bends where huge potholes lurk. We regularly travel to Albany, Geraldton, Margaret River, Kalgoorlie, and Esperance—every three weeks—and the conditions never improve. On Muller Road in Dudinin, coming back home, we nearly hit a massive pothole around a bend that could've caused a serious accident. Please consider raising this issue to hold Main Roads accountable and ask when they'll address the hazardous state of our regional roads. We drive these routes often, and they're only getting more dangerous. Sorry for ranting, but this needs attention.
I agree. I drove for quite a few years around the Wheatbelt and up to Kalgoorlie and there are some pretty bad roads. I wanted to read that out, but I also want to give credit where credit is due. After being sent that, obviously social media picks up on stuff and it came up with a news article that I was happy to see indicating that a $39 million safety investment is planned to include shire roads. I will read a bit of it that is really positive. I am glad to see that the government is investing more money in roads. Hopefully, it will do more than what is referred to in the article:
Safety improvements are in the works for South West roads as part of a new State Government program.
Twenty-seven new projects make up the Regional Road Safety Program, which will be expanded to local government roads for the first time with six of those projects in the South West.
The Shire of Dardanup has been allocated $2.9 million for works to be done at Henty Road, the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup $932,900 for Brookhampton Road and Shire of Augusta–Margaret River $72,000 for Wallcliffe Road.
I do not think I will read anymore, but the Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, said that the program was a landmark initiative, representing the biggest investment in road safety in WA. I was really happy to read that announcement. I hope the government continues to look at the roads in the north and around the Wheatbelt. From what I have read in this article, most of the money is being spent in the South West, but it is great to see any money going into roads. I just wanted to give some credit to the government for investing money and highlight that communication from the constituent.
House adjourned at 9:02:44 pm
Questions on notice answered today are available on the Parliament of Western Australia's website
