Years of lobbying for safety improvements on Hawkesbury Road by Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman and State Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle has resulted in the start of a review by Transport for NSW.

Transport for NSW has responded to a letter Ms Templeman sent Roads Minister Rob Stokes in early December, stating preliminary work for the safety review of Hawkesbury Road began on January 13.

“This is the first step towards improving road safety that’s taken years for the government to act on,” Ms Doyle said.

“I have been demanding the release of the traffic congestion study commissioned by a former Member for Blue Mountains and undertaken by the NSW Government a handful of years ago. The findings would, no doubt, point to the need for serious investment in Hawkesbury Road.

“I’ve stood at the roundabout on Hawkesbury Road every year asking where the money is to fix the problems.

“We don’t need more reviews – we need action!”

Ms Templeman said it appeared the government had finally started to listen to resident’s concerns after years of fighting for action.

“We have been calling for a safety review of this road for years; in fact, back in 2013 I said;

“The solution [to safety issues] would be for a proper review of the road by the RMS, with a view to enforcing the road rules, including a return to the centre lane markings on the bends and looking at other engineering options.”*

 “At the time, the then-State Liberal Member said it was a ‘long-standing issue’ – and yet we’ve had to wait until 2022 to get any kind of action!” Ms Templeman said.

“Late last year I committed to investing $1.8 million in improving safety at Hawkesbury Heights by constructing a paved, shared path between Hawkesbury Heights lookout and Winmalee High School if an Albanese Government was elected.

“But I also wrote to Mr Stokes saying both his government and the Federal Government had been aware of this issue for years. Residents should not have to wait until a federal election to have this path committed to, and for planning and construction to commence; the State Government has had more than a decade to act, the federal government nine years, and they should have stepped up before now.

“And although I’ve written to the Federal Minister, Paul Fletcher, about the issue, I haven’t received a response - despite his recent photo opportunity in the area.

“I’m pleased this review backs up my commitment to improve safety, and along with the local community I look forward to seeing not only timely delivery of its findings, but a genuine plan to act for the safety of local residents.

“I hope the review also looks at short term congestion measures such as a trial of lights to manage the flow of traffic turnin