Can we expect another pre-election photo shoot from the current government

In February 2022 the Moruya community learnt, via an electioneering photo shoot, that Eurobodalla Council had made application for a $2.5m in funding through an Active Transport program. That was it - they came to tell us Council had made an application.

The Bay Post reported (Feb 4th 2022) : "Mrs Brice was at the site on Friday, February 4, as Mayor Mat Hatcher, Bega Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs, Gilmore Liberal candidate Andrew Constance, and Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes were on hand to announce the application had been submitted."

Active Transport Minister, Rob Stokes said at the time: "I'm convinced, having seen it, this project has real merit.

"There's a process to be followed and a decision to be made in the coming weeks, but I'm confident, provided this project meets the parameters of the program, which I'm sure it will, it's exactly the sort of project that should be funded.

"Ultimately I'm the guy who will make the decision on the funding. I can't pre-empt anything because applications haven't formally closed yet, but having seen it you'd be foolish to not realise how important this project is to the community." he told ACM Even though Labor won the seat the FACT REMAINS that Rob Stokes is STILL Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Cities and Minister for Active Transport. Maybe the Minister might like to explain why the application did not receive any funding at all. Can we expect another photo shoot in coming weeks from the Liberal Minister and the local Liberal candidate? The Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, is unimpressed.

VIDEO: The Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips. Speech: Moruya Pathway "One of my biggest passions as Member for Gilmore has always been safety on our roads.

Country roads are notorious for all the wrong reasons – and it just doesn’t have to be that way.

In 2008, Danielle Brice tragically lost her youngest son Chris in a pedestrian accident on South Head Road Moruya.

Chris died six weeks before his eighteenth birthday while walking to a party – and it simply should not have happened.

Since then, his mum has campaigned strongly for improvements to South Head Road.

Her efforts with the Moruya South Head Cycle/Pathway Committee saw the off-road shared pathway get off the ground – and now there is less than two kilometres left to complete.

Something they should be incredibly proud of.

But here is the sticking point.

Because of what a community, who has spent two decades fighting to improve local infrastructure to protect the lives of local people, doesn’t need?

They don’t need broken promises and political stunts.

But sadly, that seems to be all the New South Wales government know how to do.

Mere days before the Bega by-election last year, the New South Wales Liberal Minister for Active Transport visited Moruya with two local Liberal Candidates – one the former Member – to announce – with some fanfare – that Eurobodalla Shire Council would submit an application to fund this $2.5 million missing pathway link.

The Former Member for Bega said – and I quote “Rob will steer it over the next few weeks.”

The Minister himself said – and I quote - “I'm convinced, having seen it, this project has real merit.”

He went on – “I'm confident, provided this project meets the parameters of the program, which I'm sure it will, it's exactly the sort of project that should be funded.”

But wait, there’s more – another quote:

“Ultimately I'm the guy who will make the decision on the funding. Having seen it you'd be foolish to not realise how important this project is to the community.”

Well, who could blame the Moruya community for thinking the project was in the bag? But hold on, a slight slip in the Liberals’ plans.

They lost the seat of Bega to Labor’s Dr Michael Holland.

And – uh-oh – they lost the seat of Gilmore too!

That wasn’t in the plan.

So, what did they decide to do?

Well, that project that the Minister said would be “foolish” to miss out on – missed out!

No explanation, no more fanfare.

Just an unsuccessful application, and questions from the community left unanswered.

Simply flabbergasting.

The Minister must explain why he put politics above the safety of the Moruya community and deliver on his promise to local people now.

The people of the South Coast deserve better than self-interested, self-serving political stunts.

They deserve better than pork barrelling 101 – but sadly, this is all you will ever get from a Liberal government". Further reading An electioneering photo shoot announces Council has made a grant application