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Sick of the poor condition of our roads - sign the petition! |
Monday, 3 August 2009
The road network in regional South Australia is vital to economies within communities and people rely on these roads everyday as part of their livelihood.
Hundreds of kilometres of Transport SA roads exist within the Goyder electorate, yet the State Government has again failed to provide any major funding in the Budget to undertake maintenance and new road works. In fact, funding for rural road improvements has been slashed from $7.76 million a year to just $760,000 this year.
I am continually being contacted by people fed up with the poor condition of the road network that they have no choice but to travel on. Some of the stories I have heard are quite shocking and it is very concerning that people driving on these roads are putting their lives at risk.
The RAA’s independent review into South Australia’s strategic road network Towards 2020 supports the need for funding to reduce the pressure currently placed on the road network.
Since becoming elected to Parliament in 2006, I have written to the Minister for Transport, the Hon Patrick Conlon MP, many times regarding the condition of the roads within Goyder.
Sadly, I keep receiving the same response that there is no funding available in the budget to carry out the required works to bring the roads up to a safe and acceptable standard. On the roads that are patched up (in some cases imposing speed limit reductions to 100 km/h), it is often a short term quick fix but the expense is to the tax payer in the long run - money and lives!
A petition is now circulating throughout the electorate during the month of August to present to Parliament when it resumes in September. I urge you to sign the petition as the power of the people is needed to show the State Government that we are sick of being ignored
Copies of the petition can be requested by contacting my office on 8832 2455 or goyder@parliament.sa.gov.au. Your assistance in distributing them in prominent positions would also be appreciated.
I have the great opportunity to represent the people of Goyder as a State Member of Parliament and I will continue to bring this issue forward until adequate investment takes place to upgrade our roads.”
Download a copy of the petition
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