F3-M2 link is 'shovel-ready'

The lack of funding for the F3-M2 link is an absolute disgrace and a direct reflection of the level of representation we now have on the Coast at a Federal level.

I don't believe that the current Member for Robertson has once raised the issue of the F3 or even mentioned it in her time as a Member.

When I was Minister for Roads, I have to say that the Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, was constantly lobbying me for funding for the F3 to Branxton link.

I took the view that the F3 to M2 link and the widening of the F3 took priority as these projects would benefit more of the population including his Hunter residents.

It is obvious that the Member for Hunter has continued to lobby the new Government and has been rewarded with $1.5 billion in funding, while our two Central Coast members have been more concerned with dealing with their own internal issues and have not raised the F3 to M2 project.

This project has not received one Rudd dollar.

When you consider that both are members of the Rudd Labor Government this is quite disgraceful.

When I left Parliament this project was ready to go.

The Pearlman report, which I commissioned, had been completed and found that the "purple option" route was in fact viable.

All it needed was an injection of funds.

Kevin Rudd wanted shovel-ready projects and here was one that would have benefited all of the Central Coast.

Prime Minister Rudd and his Central Coast members have let down the Central Coast and I can only hope motorists remember this when they continue to be stuck in ever increasing traffic jams at the Wahroonga end of the F3 almost every day.

If anyone ever doubted that the quality of your local member made a difference then this is a clear example that it certainly does have a major impact.

I'm sure all Central Coast residents will think very carefully about their choices at the next federal election in less than 18 months time.

You can only imagine the uproar on the Labor side that would have occurred, if the Liberals were still in Government, and I had failed to secure the funding for the F3-M2 link!

Jim Lloyd, Mooney Mooney