Media Release

F6 ignored by Labor again - no extension and tunnel under Labor

Friday 19th December 2008

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison said today the vital F6 extension and tunnel will not go ahead under either a Labor federal or state Government after the project was left off a shortlist of priority infrastructure projects due to receive federal funds.

“Infrastructure Australia’s priority infrastructure list was an opportunity for State and Federal Labor to demonstrate they were serious about delivering the F6 extension which would bring significant economic and social benefits to Shire residents,” Mr Morrison said.

“Instead this is the final nail in the coffin of Labor’s claims about infrastructure in the Shire. Clearly the only way the F6 extension and tunnel will be built is by the election of federal and state Coalition Governments,” he said.

“In the meantime Labor is condemning the Shire to further crowded and slower roads. The expansion of Port Botany and Port Kembla means the F6 extension and tunnel is critical to getting heavy traffic off local suburban roads, improving travel times to and from the city and improving road safety for all road users.

"Unless the F6 extension and tunnel is built, this traffic will continue to pour onto local suburban roads, leading to further increases in congestion, longer travel times, increased road safety risks for families and increases in emissions around schools, playgrounds and homes.

“Earlier this year an NRMA report found the F6 widening and tunnel would pump an extra $3 billion into the economy by 2031 through quicker travel times and less congestion.

“The report showed that more than 1,000 jobs would be created directly as a consequence of undertaking this project—at least 1,000; in fact, well more than 1,000—and the total economic impact of the project is worth $3.4 billion to our economy, at a cost of just $2.3 billion.

“After all the talk from Labor at both state and federal level about infrastructure, today’s shortlist has been revealed as a dud for the Shire.

“We will continue to campaign, along with business and community groups, including the NRMA, to see the F6 gets built,” Mr Morrison said.