MEDIA RELEASE - ABBOTT LIBERAL GOVERNMENT CONCEALS INACTION ON INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

17 June 2014

17 June 2014 The Abbott Liberal Government are continuing their program of infrastructure project reannouncements to conceal their inaction on infrastructure investment in Newcastle.Today the Government confirmed two Black Spot projects would progress in Adamstown and Waratah, allocating funding from the previous 2013-2014 Labor Budget for their completion. This follows on from their funding reannouncement for the duplication of the Tourle Street Bridge and Cormorant Drive in the Budget, despite stripping $12 million from the project funds allocated last year. While welcoming the announcement of funding for Black Spot projects, Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, called for more transparency in Government announcements. The fact that two more black spots in Newcastle are being fixed is a good thing, Ms Claydon said. Labor is serious about road safety and investment in infrastructure. We increased funding to both the Black Spot and Roads to Recovery programs and made further commitments to increase funding in the forward estimates in the 2013-2014 Commonwealth Budget. This Government continues to reannounce projects and programs of work claiming them as their own, when in fact is, they arent making any new investment. They claim to be the infrastructure government, led by the infrastructure Prime Minister, when really they are delivering nothing new and making cuts to Newcastle infrastructure projects. Its important that any funding announcements correctly reflect their funding source and amount of funding so that the public are accurately informed of what the Abbott Liberal government is in fact delivering. Black Spot Programme 2014-2015 Projects for Newcastle Section of Glebe Road, from Park Avenue to Brunker Road, at Adamstown: Funds to install traffic signals at Park Avenue, improve lighting at Park Avenue and Teralba Road intersections, close the intersection with a median at Wood Street, install a pedestrian refuge on Glebe Road at Teralba Road and ban right turns onto Glebe Road at Date Street and Teralba Road. Section of Station Street, from Turton Road to Market Street, at Waratah: Funds to install a safety barrier.