NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey and Transport and Infrastructure Minister and Bega MP Andrew Constance were in Batemans Bay today to announce the start of geotech investigations to replace the Batemans Bay Bridge. While in the area they popped in to meet with Council staff and councillors to discuss the Bay link road/Princes Highway intersection and funding for the Kings Highway. While the Minister was here to specifically look at the Batemans Bay bridge and the extensive highway improvements near Dalmeny she learnt that Councillor Phil Constable had put forward a Notice of Motion during Council's meeting of February 14th that: Council invite the Hon. Melinda Pavey MP in her capacity as NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, the Hon. Andrew Constance MP in his dual capacity as the Local Member,NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure,and the Hon. John Barilaro MP, in his capacity as Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Member for Monaro, together with the RMS Southern Region Manager Ms Renae Elrington to a meeting with Councillors and the necessary Council staff, as soon as it can be arranged, to engage in a discussion about the vital importance of: i) advancing the upgrading the Princes Highway and Kings Highway, noting the critical role these highways have in servicing Eurobodalla Shire’s residents, businesses and transport needs, the greater South Coast and Canberra regions and the international market place via Canberra airport. ii) developing longer term plans for the future redevelopment of the Princes Highway and Kings Highway to meet the medium and long term needs Councillor Constable offered in his Feb 14th preamble of the Notice that "the NSW Government is progressing major upgrade works to sections of the Princes Highway and Kings Highway, which is recognised and appreciated. Nevertheless, to secure the economic and social prosperity of our community in the short and long term, further upgrades and excellent long term infrastructure planning for these highways, backed by the necessary Government funding is essential." Council have now confirmed (Feb 28th, 2017) that a letter has been sent to the Hon. Andrew Constance MP, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Member for Bega requesting assistance to facilitate a meeting with the Hon Melina Pavey MP, the Hon, John Barliaro MP, the Hon. Bronwyn Taylor MLC and Ms Renae Elrington. Councillor Constable is looking forward to seeing the Minister for Roads return to the area as he firmly believes that "we need to meet directly with the responsible Ministers as a matter of priority to push for these vital infrastructure upgrades to our highways to be brought forward and completed, and to put in place longer term plans for these highways."
Above: Hon. L to R : Andrew Constance MP, Hon. Melinda Pavey MP, Clr James Thomson, MS Southern Region Manager Ms Renae Elrington, Clr Anthony Mayne, Clr Maureen Nathan, GM Catherine Dale and Clr Phil Constable
