FROG LAWS TO GO LIGHT GREEN SAYS GASH

Delays to major projects, like the expansion of the Princes Highway at South Nowra, courtesy of the Gold and Green Bell Frog, could soon be a thing of the past says Gilmore MP Joanna Gash.

Mrs Gash said that moves by the Federal Labor Government to water down environmental laws would be supported by the Coalition.

“Too many projects have been stymied in the past and continue to be so as the delays to the South Nowra Princes Highway expansion are showing us.

“Any delays to major construction projects just adds huge economic and social costs, most of which, in the end, has to be suffered by the taxpayer.

“For instance, Main Road 92 was a victim of an over zealous State Labor Government which disgracefully exploited environmental laws.

“The result was that construction of MR 92 was delayed by well over 6 years at a cost over run of $15 million for which the NSW taxpayer had to pick up the tab.

“This would not have happened had we had more sensible laws in place, laws that relied on good practice rather than emotional overdrive”, Mrs Gash said.

Mrs Gash said the Coalition had always called for a more balanced approach and the Labor Government’s moves to water down the Threatened Species Act was an admission that they had got it wrong in the first place.

“Under Coalition policy, what we want to see happen is a much shorter time frame to consider threatened species issues, say in the order of 90 to 180 days.

“We are looking for ‘one stop shop’ approach to replace the present system which is frankly a barrier to any practical infrastructure development.

“Our reform proposal will see a project get an automatic green light if threatened species claims are not substantiated within the prescribed time frame.

“I’ve yet to see the detail of what the government is actually proposing but I agree in principle for the need for reform.

“The need for a better balance is long overdue and I will certainly support measures to reform laws that have stood in the way of sensible progress and growth in the past”, Mrs Gash said.