With the NSW State Election looming, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has today called on both sides of politics to fund the upgrading and reconstruction of Peninsula residential roads.

“We have reached a crisis point”, said Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President Matthew Wales.

“Our local roads are falling apart, they lack kerb and gutter, stormwater drainage and footpaths. It’s an absolute disgrace”.

“We have repeatedly asked all levels of government at every election to allocate funds to kerb and gutter our roads, implement street drainage and construct footpaths for the safety of the community”, said Matthew Wales.

“Yet despite the urgency, we are ignored time and time again with the same old excuses”.

“We are constantly told that we live on a sandplain which is the best natural drainage and therefore we don’t need kerb and gutter”, said Matthew Wales.

“That’s a nonsense. Try and explain that to residents who are constantly flooded every time we have a storm event”.

“With modern engineering practices, full road reconstruction is essential to deliver safe streets with state-of-the-art drainage and concrete footpaths that can accommodate families and the elderly”, said Matthew Wales.

“With a population of over 36,000 residents, it is unacceptable that over 80% of our roads are unkerbed, lack adequate stormwater drainage and concrete footpaths with virtually no local roads listed on Central Coast Council’s forward plan of works”.

“The Chamber is calling on Council to implement a long term Program of Works that lists every road in need of reconstruction so that we at least have a local priority list for future works”, said Matthew Wales.

“Further, there are State and Federal grants available for Central Coast Council for both road maintenance and reconstruction which should be applied for”.

“Council should be listening to the community as to what their priorities are and not telling the community what they think is good for us”, said Matthew Wales.

“We have to start somewhere so the Chamber is calling on all sides of politics to commit to the allocation of funds for a comprehensive audit of the Peninsula road and drainage system and set priorities for a yearly reconstruction program assisted by State and Federal funds”.