[Greens-Media] Victoria Road upgrade: detailed plans still under wraps

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon Media Release 2 April 2008

Victoria Road upgrade: detailed plans still under wraps

Greens MP and roads spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal to reveal detailed plans to on proposed major road projects like the Victoria Road upgrade and the M4 East at an early stage, before they become cemented, following Sir Laurence Street's refusal to release secret papers on the Victoria Road Upgrade.

"It is disappointing that Sir Laurence Street has refused to recommend releasing privileged documents prepared for the Victoria Road Upgrade project on the basis that they are preliminary planning documents," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The RTA's idea of consulting is to give the community a one or two page flyer boasting a project's benefit.  But the devil is in the detail and without access to detailed plans the community is effectively emasculated in fighting major road projects.

"While community opposition to the Victoria Road upgrade and the M4 East is strong, campaigners cannot most effectively mount their case without detail.  

"The Iemma government beavers away behind closed doors on detailed road plans and then presents them to the local community as a fait accompli, leaving little room for the community to have meaningful input and where necessary change the decision.

"Residents are still waiting on the discussion paper Minister Roozendaal promised for the M4 East proposal due to be released by the end of last year.

"Sir Laurence Street was instrumental in allowing the Greens to force the release of the thousands of Cross City Tunnel papers which unmasked that disaster of this project, but only after the horse had bolted and the infrastructure was built. 

"The community needs detailed information much earlier in the piece.

"The government has failed to release a cost benefit analysis for the proposed Victoria Road upgrade project, despite a recommendation of the 2003 Parry Report into Sustainable Transport that all infrastructure projects be developed after such analysis.

"Sir Laurence Street says in his report that 'secrecy inevitably gives rise to distrust'.  

"Secrecy is becoming the Iemma government's stock-in-trade and the losers are the public," Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information:  Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568 


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au