LOCAL FEDERAL MP COMMENTS ON THE M2 UPGRADE
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that consultations on upgrading the M2 are important but should not delay the implementation of measures to alleviate the significant traffic congestion now present.
“Organisations such as Beecroft Civic Trust and West Pennant Hills Progress Association should use this opportunity to advocate for greater amelioration of traffic noise that has resulted from greater utilisation of the M2,” Mr Ruddock said.
“The widening of carriageways, the provision of park and ride bus interchanges and the facilitation of further on and off access will only lead to further adverse environmental impacts.
“Effective consultation with local communities adversely affected is essential.
“These steps should not be used, however, to camouflage the State Government’s inaction in dealing with the horrific situation facing those living on, and using, Pennant Hills Road.
“Premier Iemma’s masterly understatement ‘we will also take steps now to ensure the M2 can handle a future link to the F3’ reinforces the view that his Government considers the people of Sydney’s north west ‘second class citizens’, already paying tolls to use roads which are less adequate than those elsewhere in Sydney.
“The lack of action to identify and reserve land for a genuine western orbital coupled with inaction on the M2 – F3 link, reinforce s the view that Labor is failing the people of the North West.
“Infrastructure developments being identified by Federal and State Labor governments in Sydney, now ignore the north west and focus on a supplementary M7, widening the M5 and tunnelling for the M4 from Strathfield to the Anzac Bridge with additional tunnelling to Botany Bay.
“Unlike the Howard Government which had identified the M2-F3 link for substantial AusLink funding, Labor to date has studiously avoided making such a commitment.
“In the long term, Labor’s political decision to ignore the North West will prove to have been a major error of judgement.
“The now Labor electorates of Robertson and Dobell, de-linked from Sydney, won’t take long to identify who has been to blame,” Philip Ruddock said.