Premier called on to explain F3 debacle

13 April 2010

The NSW Business Chamber Central Coast said that yesterday’s 12-hour debacle on the F3 was a disgrace and should never be allowed to happen again.

“Premier Kristina Keneally and Transport Minister David Campbell need to come up to the Central Coast and explain to residents and business owners why this debacle occurred and why it won’t happen again,” said Ken Baker, President of NSW Business Chamber Central Coast.

“We don’t blame the Government for accidents occurring on the F3 from time to time.  What we want to see is a sense of urgency from government transport agencies to clear accidents and get traffic moving as quickly as possible – that was completely missing in yesterday’s incident.”

“Yesterday’s delayed response to the closure of all north-bound lanes on the F3 was simply unacceptable. A 12-hour delay in getting traffic moving on a vital road link between Sydney and the Central Coast is something you would expect to experience in Los Angeles.

NSW Business Chamber outlined the need for a Transport Tsar to take charge of the transport network as part of its 10 Big Ideas to Grow NSW campaign.

“We call on the NSW Government to implement our initiative of appointing a Transport Tsar to solve our transport problems, both in day to day operations as well as long term transport planning.”

Mr Baker said that continual disruptions to the F3 would cost businesses on the Central Coast time and money and was a disincentive to locate a business on the Central Coast.

“We need a dedicated Transport Tsar whose responsibility is to take charge of these problems and ensure that all transport agencies are working together to implement solutions as quickly as possible.

“Business needs and expects certainty from our transport network.  Accidents will happen and business will factor that into their operations, they shouldn’t be expected to factor in 12-hour delays.

“We expect that a Transport Tsar would have demanded that the F3 crossover be implemented immediately rather than 12 hours after the accident had occurred.”

Mr Baker said the community could support the appointment of Transport Tsar by registering their support at www.10bigideas.com.au.

The community can also support the 10 Big Ideas on Facebook with the fan page 10 Big Ideas to Grow NSW and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nswbcand #10bigideas.