Government fails to act on Brown Mountain
This weekend’s major landslip on the Snowy Mountains Highway around Brown Mountain has exposed Albanese Labor Government’s failure to prioritise funding and support for Eden-Monaro roads.
Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro Joanne van der Plaat said Brown Mountain landslides will continue to cause immense travel delays and could put lives in danger as we start to get closer to the bushfire season.
“Back in Opposition, Kristy McBain was committed to funding for fixing this road, but now as a Minister she seems to have forgotten about our community,” said Ms van der Plaat.
“She is failing to fight for Eden-Monaro’s fair share of funding and infrastructure – the Albanese Government should already be looking to declare this stretch a Road of Strategic Importance as the community has been calling, so it can get the federal funding that’s needed.”
“Kristy McBain has found time to get around the country as the Minister for Regional Development to announce millions in Roads to Recovery funding in other regions, but not for this community.”
“The Brown Mountain route is the main east-west transport link between Canberra, Cooma, the Riverina and the coast and it provides essential access for freight, emergency services and visitors to the region. It is a lynchpin for the Far South Coast retail and tourism economy, and this critical connection to the ACT and southern NSW needs to be made safe.”
“Everyone on the South Coast and the Monaro knows the importance of Brown Mountain during the Black Summer fires, where it remained open at times when many other transport routes were cut.”
“Kristy McBain continues to say she’s investigating the issue - but there are no signs of action. Instead, we got the cancellation of the Jindabyne Southern Connector,” says Ms van der Plaat. “This is just another example of the Albanese Labor Government’s lack of focus on the needs of the regions.”
“I will continue to fight for proper funding for Eden-Monaro, including upgrades and repairs to our roads and infrastructure.”
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