Gulaptis criticises Hwy report
MEMBER for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has joined other Northern NSW Nationals in criticising an Infrastructure NSW report which said Sydney based projects should take priority over the highway upgrade.
Mr Gulaptis said he would talk with Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner as well as working co-jointly with Member for Coffs Andrew Fraser to see Infrastructure NSW's report carries no weight in terms of policy making decisions in Sydney.
"I will be talking with Andrew Stoner and other North Coast Nationals and making sure this is a concerted effort," he said.
Mr Gulaptis emphasised that Infrastructure NSW is just a Government department and its views do not reflect those of the National party or the LNP coalition.
"They're also advocating a congestion tax in Sydney and the sale of the poles and wires network which, the Premier already said he does not have an electoral mandate to do," he said.
"Just because Infrastructure NSW says this is the case does not necessarily mean we have to do it and the Government need not consider their report."
When asked if he thought Infrastructure NSW's analysis had taken into account the loss of human life on the Highway Mr Gulaptis highlighted the difference between an economic and a political analysis of the issue.
"I don't think they have taken that into account at all, all they have done is look at the numbers.
"That's the Government's role to determine all the other aspects this report has not looked at."
Infrastructure NSW has been asked to provide further detail on what factors they took into account to come up with the assertion that the Pacific Highway was not an economic priority.
