Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams has called on the NSW Labor Government to fully fund plans to upgrade the Oxley Highway Stage 2 which includes the often congested Wrights Road and Lake Road intersections.

“Last month the Albanese Labor Government axed funding for the planning of this major road project which every day sees vehicles backed up for hundreds of metres during peak periods,” Mrs Williams said.

“If the Federal Labor Government won’t fund their share of the planning investment, then I am calling on the Minns Labor Government to step up and fully fund planning for this project so it can be shovel ready as soon as possible.

“During the last sitting week of Parliament, I moved a Notice of Motion in the House calling on the NSW Government to fund ongoing planning of the Oxley Highway Stage 2 upgrades as a matter of urgency and urging their Federal Government colleagues to reverse the cuts to critical infrastructure projects.

“It is extremely disappointing that as of today, the Government is yet to guarantee if any of the projects cut in regional and metropolitan areas will proceed as planned and promised,” Mrs Williams said.

“The NSW Government should show some leadership and either persuade the Federal Government to overturn it’s decision to cut $3.6 billion in infrastructure projects or commit to proceeding with projects like the Oxley Highway Stage 2 Upgrade as planned.

“As I said publicly last month, I appreciated the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, the Hon Jenny Aitchison seeing first hand the traffic congestion on the Oxley Highway when she was here in June and I am hopeful when she visits Port Macquarie again next week that she reconsiders prioritising this project and continue with the planning that commenced under the previous Liberals and Nationals,” Mrs Williams said.