Labor Budget: Oxley Highway Blows Out Again and Fourth Pod Misses Out

16 June 2009

Shadow Minister and Duty MLC for Port Macquarie Melinda Pavey said today that in the NSW Labor Government’s Budget, the electorate misses out yet again with no plan for the construction of the Fourth Pod at Port Macquarie Hospital, as well as more delays for the construction of the Oxley Highway Upgrade.
Today’s Budget reveals that the Oxley Highway will blow out yet again and that the NSW Labor Government has no plans for the long awaited Fourth Pod.

“The Oxley Highway was announced by the former Roads Minister Carl Scully in 2002 and was proposed to cost $80 million with completion in 2007, however today’s Budget reveals that to date the project has doubled both in price and in time.
“If any organisation deserves to go into administration it’s the incompetent State Labor Government.
“The budget papers today show that for the Oxley Highway, only $25 million is allocated to be spent this year, bringing the total expenditure to $54.2 million for the $158 million project.
“This means more than $100 million will need to be allocated next year to have the project completed by 2011,” Mrs Pavey said.

“And whilst it comes as no surprise given the NSW Labor Government’s incompetence, the Fourth Pod upgrade of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital has been ignored yet again, even though the hospital is bursting at the seams.

“This is yet another example of NSW Labor getting its priorities wrong by failing fund a project that will save peoples lives.
“And whilst $900 000 has been allocated for the long awaited Emergency Department upgrade, it has been revealed that the NSW Labor Government has reneged on its promise to create seven new beds, and instead has committed to just one.

“The NSW Labor Government has let the people of Port Macquarie down once again by going back on their promise to fund seven new beds including two paediatric, two adult and three waiting treatment beds.

“The NSW Labor Government’s decision to cut the number of beds is a result of their financial incompetence, which is putting local Port Macquarie peoples lives at risk,” Mrs Pavey said.

Mrs Pavey said that whilst the Rees Labor Government has provided detailed budget packs to their Labor Members and others they see supporting their administration, it could be over a week before the Liberal/Nationals members get the proper budget packs which outline all other funding on an electorate basis.
“However it is clear that on the big ticket items, Port Macquarie has missed out,” Mrs Pavey said.