The Greens Cate Faehrmann stands up for road safety in Iluka and the Minister for Roads and Ports disappoints

Question Without Notice in the NSW Legislative Assembly on 4 April 2012:

ILUKA ROAD, ILUKA, SPEED LIMIT

The Hon. CATE FAEHRMANN: My question is directed to the Minister for Roads and Ports. Currently the main Iluka Road at Iluka has a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour, which was put in place after lobbying by many locals to protect a sensitive wildlife corridor and to reduce the number of accidents that can occur as a result of hitting wildlife on that road. Given that the lower speed limit has reduced the number of animals injured and killed and, therefore, the number of accidents, will the Minister assure the House that the proposal of The Nationals member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, to increase the speed limit to 100 kilometres per hour will not be approved?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: In case the Hon. Cate Faehrmann does not know: the Government has changed. She should have asked that question of the former Government. Under the new Government changes in speed zones go to the safety committee, which makes the decision. If it is appropriate for the speed limit to increase, the road safety group will approve it. If it is not appropriate, it will not.

It was good to see NSW Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann ask a question about Iluka Road.

Equally it was disappointing to see the NSW Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan Gay decide to be less than honest about the speed limit review process.

The Staysafe (Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety) is not considering this matter. It is being progressed by NSW Roads and Maritime Services in consultation with the Clarence Valley Council Traffic Advisory Committee, with the Member for Clarence (who is pushing for an increase in the speed limit in an area in which he may possibly still have a pecuniary interest) sitting on this local “road safety group”.

In other words, state government influence is still a significant factor in this matter.