Wednesday, 22 June 2022

Lowan electorate roads

Ms KEALY (Lowan) (19:08): (6440) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the action I seek is for the minister for roads to join me to see firsthand the dangerous condition of roads in my electorate, including the Coleraine-Edenhope Road. Over the past couple of weeks I have received a few pieces of correspondence which relate to different parts of the Coleraine-Edenhope Road. This road goes from Edenhope through Harrow down to Coleraine, and at the Coleraine end it encompasses what is known as the Coleraine Hill near Konongwootong. A young man by the name of Gus McCure has written a letter to me, which I would like to read into Hansard:

My name is Gus McCure and I go to Balmoral Community College. I’m 10 years old and I’m here to write you a letter about, the Coleraine, Edenhope Road. The hill going down into Coleraine is very bumpy and dangerous. I have heard lots of people complaining about it, including my parents. People that go way too fast could easily have a crash and that could lead to a massive disaster. People could die or get very badly injured. But if the road was fixed it would probably not happen. I see you have put a sign up that says be wear of bumps and filled in a hole or two but when Mum or Dad takes me to Coleraine or Hamilton, I still see the bumps in the road, and they are ridiculously big! The bumps could make cargo or something you have in your ute/car fall out. Once my dad was driving down the hill and he was going normal speed and the anti-skid light came on because the road was so bumpy. I find it scary when we go down the hill because I hate the bumps. I’m surprised that the shire has not tried to fix it. I don’t care if the project takes a year as long as it is done properly. Maybe put a lane … especially for trucks or a passing lane. I would like to see road workers start in the next year or so if you can approve to it. I think if it does go ahead the whole community will be very happy now and for years to come.

Look forward to your reply.

Yours Sincerely

Gus McCure—

a lovely young man who, at 10 years of age, is advocating for safer roads in our area.

I also received correspondence from Mr Greg Buttle of Edenhope. He is equally concerned but is at the opposite end of Coleraine-Edenhope Road:

The road is pitted and cracked in areas coming through the residential area in Edenhope (approximately 500 mts) from the T intersection West Wimmera hwy up to George St. The boom of the trucks and rattling carriages as they hit the faults in the road is similar to that of a clap of lightning going off. Let me tell you It is over and above having to put up with this during the day, but having that into the evening is darn right outrageous.

Please will the government have a real look at it? Come up here and talk with myself and residents in this area.

I appeal to the minister for roads—we know that there have been cuts to the road asset management budget—to come with me and see firsthand the condition of the roads and what people are having to live with and just how dangerous it is when they are simply trying to go to school, go to work or go to footy or netball training. Please, Minister, come and inspect our roads and provide the funding to fix them once and for all.