BY IAN CROUCH
The state opposition is accusing the Baird government of ignoring the Bucketts Way in the latest round of Fixing Country Roads funding.
The Bucketts Way stretches from 12 Mile Creek at Port Stephens through Gloucester to Taree and is an important arterial road for freight transport and tourism.
However, it's also notoriously dangerous and regarded by the NRMA has one of the worst roads in the state.
Already this year, the road has claimed 3 lives - 23-year-old Matthew Ratley from Cameron Park died on May 21 when his Holden Commodore hit a tree at Gloucester. 25-year-old Bryce Parry of Merewether was killed on June 19 when his car crashed off the road near Stroud. Just four days later, 53-year-old Frederick Turner of Killaware died when his utility hit a power pole at Gloucester.
Shadow Hunter Minister, Kate Washington is supporting calls from the Gloucester community to install 3 passing lanes on the Bucketts Way at a cost of just over $6 million - 2 at Limeburners Creek and 1 at Weismantels to improve safety.
She says the projects are shovel ready and both Mid Coast and Port Stephens Councils have offered a cash and in-kind component to the work.
"Both (councils) see the Bucketts Way upgrade as its priority and it's not being reflected in the state government or federal government for that matter as well. We don;t care where the money comes from, we just need to see the road upgraded so it improves safety for all users," she said.
However, federal member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie says the Turnbull government is already spending millions to upgrade the Bucketts Way on top of funding provided from the Roads to Recovery and Black Spot programs.
"I've got $17 million extra that was not out of any program. It's just sheer political will and campaigning over two elections to get that delivered onto the Bucketts Way and I'll continue to fight for any funds that I can secure in any shape or form," he said.
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| Port Stephens Mp, Kate Washington |
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| Federal Lyne Mp, Dr David Gillespie |
