This week saw the announcement by Ann Sudmalis that Federal funds from three sources had now completed the Turpentine Road which very effectively connects the ACT with the lower Shoalhaven via the newly upgraded Nerriga Road.
Above: Federal member for Gilmore opens more stuff in the north of her electorate
It is now a comfortable drive from Canberra to Nowra in three hours.
Above: Canberra to Nowra in 3 hours via the Nerriga Road
The impact to Eurobodalla? More Canberrans are now looking to take their South Coast holidays in the Shoalhaven. The Shoalhaven is well aware of this and are marketing themselves very effectively to the ACT market. Add to this mix the dynamic Shoalhaven City Council which endorsed the ‘Beyond Nerriga Route Options Report’ in 2015 that recommends South East Australia Transport Strategy (SEATS) and the five adjoining council areas (that includes Eurobodalla) lobby federal and state governments for funding to upgrade the Nerriga to Tarago route to B-double standard. The project is estimated to cost $250 million. In opening the Turpentine Road Ann Sudmalis said: “Our whole region benefits when we are able to make it easier for tourists to visit and trucks carrying freight to reach our towns and villages.” In the south Mike Kelly met locals on Monday 12th December 2016 at Narooma bridge who asked questions about the Princes Highway corridor improvements
Above: Federal member for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly meeting locals at Narooma bridge
Peter Bernard of Dalmeny offered: "The Narooma Bridge replacement is important as it was built well before those at Bateman’s Bay and Nelligen. Within the last month local member Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Duncan Gay Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight released details of proposed new bridges at Bateman’s Bay and Nelligen. Naturally many of us in this neck of the woods are a very disappointed with the State Government and council failure to recognize the need for a new crossing.
The Narooma Bridge was the first bridge constructed between 1929 and 1931 by the Main Roads
as part of its efforts to develop the Princes Highway. It is the only bridge I know of with a skewed “T “intersection and cliff face at one end. It is totally inadequate for modern day traffic in width and height. There are numerous side swipes, direct collision’s and extensive damage. For many it is a frightening experience when confronted with heavy vehicles crossing on to the wrong side of the road.
There has been well publicised Federal involvement towards the Bega By-pass with grants to the States by the Federal Government
Would you press for Federal Government financial assistance towards the funding an alternative access to Narooma via the Princes and replacement of the current Bridge?
To the surprise of Peter Bernard and the others assembled Mike began to describe his desire to see an alternative access from the High Country down to Eden Port via Imlay Road to encourage the wider use of that port for primary industry. In Summary: Ann Sudmalis, Liberal MP for Gilmore, is focused on the north of her electorate which is understandable as she lives in that area. It was only in the last election that she was also handed the northern portion of Eden Monaro down to Tuross Lake. Sadly it appears already that this section of the electorate is being overlooked on a number of counts including priority Mobile Phone Black Spot action to address the fact that there is a virtual blackspot along the Kings Highway from Braidwood to Batemans Bay that places at risk travellers along this section gaining access to emergency services. The Eden Monaro electorate was also reconfigured to assist the previous incumbent get re-elected however when it came time for voting no-one in the electorate seem to know who he was as he had done little if anything in the way of travelling and canvasing his area. Mike Kelly now has a much larger area "over the hill" and is also focused on the Eden/Bega area which is home turf. That leaves Eurobodalla as piggy in the middle Federally. This week saw a letter to the Editor of The Beagle from Joe Smith congratulating Andrew Constance, Member for Bega, "for the great job he has done in obtaining large grants which have been allocated to road infrastructure in our area. The works on the Kings Hwy and the Princes Hwy will save lives." This week also saw Council responding to a Question on Notice from Councillor Constable asking for details of the Princes Highway Corridor long term improvement plan. Basically there is no plan as such for the next twenty years other than a few local area fixes. You can read the Council response in full here (Princes Highway Corridor Strategy) Maybe the Eurobodalla Council's SEATS representative would like take note of the above and advise the new Councillors on what lobbying has already been done to date and what lobbying is proposed for this term of Council.
