Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Infrastructure is vital for the foundations of a nation. It's how we get to work. It's how we move millions of people rapidly to different parts of the country. It's how we ensure that our emergency services—our police, our fire service, our ambulance—can attend those who need them most. It is how we ensure the wellbeing and health of our people. It is how we promote inclusion and access for all. Infrastructure is community.

I want to thank the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, on all the work she has completed and continues to undertake to improve the vital foundations of our country, especially on the Central Coast. I want to particularly thank the minister and her team for meeting with my office and representatives from the Central Coast Council, including the administrator, Rik Hart; directors, Boris Bolgoff and Mel Smith; and executive assistant, Madeleine Bell. The constructive dialogue between us will mean better outcomes for the people of the Central Coast.

Infrastructure throughout the electorate of Robertson, over the past decade, but particularly over the last few years, has deteriorated significantly. Insufficient federal investment and unprecedented rainfall have led to significant proportions of our public infrastructure deteriorating or not being updated to meet the immediate needs of the community. This was an issue that was discussed on many occasions when engaging with the constituents of Robertson, and I would hazard a guess that this is an issue that is discussed with members of parliament right across this country.

Here are the primary issues on the Central Coast that were discussed: the state of local roads and local sporting and recreation facilities; large craters throughout our local road network; sporting facilities with amenities that are not fit for purpose; issues with the local road network causing chaos for drivers right across our region, meaning longer commute times, difficulty accessing vital services and damage to motor vehicles; local community sporting and recreation facilities with absent female change rooms, dilapidated toilets and common areas, no storage areas and major safety hazards. These are all of significant concern to the community. It was because of these conversations—the thousands of doors knocked and the phone calls made—that we committed to upgrading our local road infrastructure and sporting facilities in the electorate of Robertson.

The $40 million Central Coast Roads Package aims to upgrade some of the worst roads in our region, roads that have impacted and continue to significantly impact motorists and emergency services. Our government looks forward to engaging and working with the Central Coast Council on multiple priority projects as part of this package. A $30 million fund for the initial stage of the upgrade of Avoca Drive has been provided in the October budget, delivering on an election commitment. A detailed scope and delivery schedule will be determined in consultation with the NSW government. Avoca Drive is a known pinch point and the missing link between different parts of the NSW Central Coast, with congestion causing significant traffic when commuters are going to work and when parents and carers are dropping the kids off at school. Even emergency services are unable to pass because of the significant traffic volume.

Then there are upgrades to the Frost Reserve sporting facility, which has not been upgraded in decades and is now no longer fit for purpose, even though thousands of families use these facilities frequently. The project's intent is to construct a new amenities building at Frost Reserve to provide an area for members and teams within the surrounding community. The proposed upgrades for this facility will have a positive impact on sporting clubs, like the Kincumber Roos Football Club, and include female changing rooms and upgrades to the canteen. These upgrades are necessary, and they are essential. This is nation-building.

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