Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending UGL's 125th anniversary open day at their Broadmeadow depot. Starting as a business supporting the local coal industry, UGL has grown, diversified and developed into the modern engineering hub we know today. More than a thousand employees and their families came together to mark the momentous occasion. We even got to welcome back a Newcastle icon, the Tangara train, which was built on site between 1988 and 1995. The Tangara continues to service Sydney's commuters to this day and is representative of how great local manufacturing can be.
As I reflect on this anniversary, I'm reminded of the people who made this journey, from the first engineers, tradespeople and technicians who built the foundations of this organisation to the current team of professionals who continue to drive UGL Broadmeadow's success. Each individual has played a vital role in shaping UGL's success. As we look ahead, the future for UGL is bright. The industries UGL serve are transforming, and the company is well positioned to lead in emerging areas like high-speed rail and renewable energy. With the Labor government focused on a future made in Australia and a determination to remove barriers to education and training with free TAFE, I'm certain that UGL Broadmeadow will continue to thrive for another 125 years.
It was great to see so many Novocastrians in Parliament House last week. Firstly, I want to give a shout out to Brain Tumour Alliance Australia for hosting the 2024 Head to the Hill event. Families, survivors and advocates made their way to parliament to share their personal stories and raise awareness of the profound and devastating impacts of brain tumours. Pairs of shoes were placed across the lawns of Parliament House, each pair representing a person who had died from the disease. I pay tribute to Newcastle's own Mark Hughes Foundation, which raises much-needed funds for research, creates awareness and supports brain cancer patients and their families. I was also able to share a special moment with Lake Macquarie councillor Madeline Bishop, who tragically lost her husband to brain cancer.
The following day I caught up with the fabulous Claudia Tolhurst, the CEO of the Hunter Melanoma Foundation, who was in Parliament House to raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of skin cancers. The Hunter region has the highest incidence of melanoma per capita in the world. One in 25 males and one in 30 females in our region will suffer from this disease. Tragically, one person dies every five hours. As we head into the busy summer period, it's a timely reminder to apply sunscreen, wear protective clothing, seek shade where possible and conduct skin checks often. It is our collective responsibility to bring down these staggering statistics. Hunter Melanoma will be doing free spot checks at Bar Beach again this summer, so make sure you jump online and book your check-up. It could save your life.
Thank you to both of these important causes that brought their challenges to Canberra. I just want to give another little shout out to Teresa Brauer and her very brave daughter Gabrielle who were part of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation group paying a visit to Parliament House this week. Thank you for sharing your personal stories of type 1 diabetes and your advocacy for increased investment. I was very delighted that the Albanese Labor government will support this next phase of searching for a cure for type 1 diabetes through a $50 million investment in a research project to be delivered through the JDRF program.
I am delighted to provide an update to the House on the progress of the Hexham Straight widening project. The six-kilometre stretch between Sandgate and Hexham is a notorious choke point for traffic. Anyone who drives on this road daily will tell you just what a nightmare it can be. But, thanks to the Albanese Labor government and our investment of $1.8 billion, the Hexham Straight will be upgraded from two lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction, and we get a new bridge, so we'll have twin bridges in operation. Last week, we passed a major milestone, with the new southbound bridge over Ironbark Creek now completed and open to traffic. It was only in August that we saw the first girder, a crucial part of that project puzzle, being lifted into place. These upgrades will benefit more than 50,000 motorists who travel between Newcastle and Maitland every single day, easing congestion, cutting down on travel times and, importantly, improving road safety. Work on building a new, second, northbound bridge will start next month. I look forward to updating the community on the progress of these projects.
