Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Narracan electorate roads

Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (19:10): (765) My adjournment this evening is to the Minister for Roads and Road safety, and the action I seek is for funding to be provided to address the serious road issues across Narracan. We are not just talking about road maintenance issues – we are talking about infrastructure projects, upgrades, modernisations and every aspect of our roads. But let me start on the maintenance. We have some serious issues between Nar Nar Goon and the Bunyip River, and you would not believe this – when we say road safety costs lives, this story will blow your mind. We had a surgeon travelling to the West Gippsland Hospital last week. He hit a pothole, blew his tyre out and had to drive 6 kilometres to the Longwarry service station and then beg someone to take him to West Gippsland Hospital. He had 10 patients waiting that all had to have colonoscopies. It is fair to say if you have ever had a colonoscopy, they are not the most pleasant procedure to go through, but imagine if your doctor did not turn up because he had blown his tyre out on a pothole on a road of significance in Victoria. I am trying to say this with a straight face. Thankfully the doctor did make it. There was a very good Samaritan that took him to West Gippsland Hospital, and all colonoscopies were completed. They were waiting with bated breath, but they got through it.

Unfortunately that is not the only issue in my electorate. We have a lot of issues. We need major intersection upgrades, especially along that exact same road I just mentioned. Unfortunately we have got a sign down at Tynong that flashes 70 kilometres when a car is coming to the intersection. That sign has been out of commission now for over 12 months, and that is a dangerous intersection, and I would like the minister to look at that and get that fixed straightaway, not to mention the numerous roundabout upgrades that are needed in Warragul and Drouin, and again I would ask for the $3 million road study we need for Warragul and Drouin so their road networks can be upgraded; they are over 100 years old. It has been the fastest growing area in Australia over the last decade, and it needs serious government investment right now.