Liberal pledge wrongly targeted, says Chamber

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has questioned a recent announcement by State Opposition Leader Mr Peter Debnam that the Liberals would allocate $6 million for the upgrade of the intersection at Blackwall Rd and McMasters Rd on the Peninsula if elected.

"At a time when the Peninsula has a raft of badly constructed and poorly maintained roads, the Chamber questions the expenditure of $6 million on an intersection that has a comparatively low accident history," said Chamber vice-president Mr Tom Tregent.

"The intersection with the highest accident history - at Lone Pine Ave and Ocean Beach Rd - has been completely ignored in the Liberals' funding announcement.

"From the Chamber's perspective, the last thing the Peninsula needs is yet another set of traffic lights on Blackwall Rd which would make three sets within a kilometre.

"Traffic congestion is already chaotic at peak hour because of the lights at the Leisure Centre and Allfield Rd.

"Business does not need more chaos by placing another set at McMasters Rd."

Mr Tregent also raised concerns over the price tag for the intersection upgrade, labelling the $6 million as "inflated".

"A lot of sub-standard roads could get fixed on the Peninsula for $6 million," Mr Tregent said.

"The business community welcomes and supports investment into our roads infrastructure but it needs to be properly targeted."

Mr Tregent said the Lone Pine Ave-Ocean Beach Rd intersection "with the busy Umina Mall shops" was "an accident constantly happening".

"We would rather have seen that money go to upgrading this deadly intersection."

Press release, 7 March 2007 Tom Tregent, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce