Last Friday The Daily Examiner editor, David Bancroft, expressed an opinion shared by many on the NSW North Coast:
IT'S a pity NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell had not arrived on the North Coast a little earlier yesterday to inspect the section of Pacific Highway between Ballina and Coffs Harbour that we believe needs urgent and major upgrading.
If he had, he would have been able to see for himself the carnage that happens all too regularly on this section of highway.
Sadly, another person lost their life on the highway yesterday and lives will continue to be lost until the entire section of the highway is divided carriageway.
Currently the NSW Government has no plans - at least for the next five years - to make any large sections of the highway in this area divided.
And while it remains undivided, vehicles will continue to crash head-on and innocent people will continue to die.
Mr O'Farrell missed his plane yesterday and arrived hours late for his tour. But at least he arrived.
The same cannot be said of the Premier, Kristina Keneally, who is still to accept an invitation from four North Coast mayors to join them on a tour of the highway.
Yesterday Mrs Keneally was in Dubbo opening the headquarters of the State Water Corporation.
There is no doubt the Premier is a busy woman and that there may have been a long-standing commitment to open the headquarters.
But the mayors have left their invitation completely open-ended and will agree to meet the Premier anytime that suits her.
Being Premier involves more than smiling photo opportunities ... sometimes it means getting out and facing some of the more problematic issues in the community.
And there can't be anything that is a greater problem then people dying needlessly on our roads.
Come on Mrs Keneally, it's time to come and have a look at the highway for yourself.
Man dead after car, truck collide The crash happened on a straight section of the Pacific Highway on an overtaking lane near the Iluka turn-off last Thursday.
1 comment:
The Pacific Highway has been crying out for attention for years. I salute Mr O'Farrell for his true concern in visiting the area. It wasn't just a visit but a true understanding of need and people.
Unlike many others Mr O'Farrell is prepared to make the time, get out there and obtain an understanding and actually offer to attend to problems like the Pacific Highway.
No more wasteful spending in the big smoke and a bit of caring for all the people of NSW, seems to be what Mr O'Farrell is interested in. I hope for all our sake, his message gets across because we need strong Leadership after the next State Election in 2011. Well done Mayors and great to hear something might now be happening that we can actually save lives.
David Hunt
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