Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Spit Bridge clip-on pushed through by ministers

posted Friday 27 August 2004

The proposal by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority to add two lanes on the western side of the Spit Bridge across Middle Harbour has been assisted by Ministerial fiat announced on 25th August.

The consent authorities for the proposal are Mosman and Manly councils (the landings) and Sydney Waterways (the part above water). Because the councils had failed to make a decision within 60 days of lodging development applications (DAs) in March, the Minister for Infrastructure etc (Mr Knowles) has authorised his department to request the councils to provide draft conditions of consent within a further 40 days. This means that the Councils cannot reject the proposal.

Roads minister Mr Scully has welcomed the action.

Readers may recall that the Federal Government has been promoting a different proposal for a submarine tunnel, which economists told local member Tony Abbott could be viable. More recently, Mr Abbott and Mrs Bishop announced that the Federal Government has offered $500,000 to assist calling for expressions of interest from the private sector to solve Warringah Peninsula traffic problems.

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