Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1996-08-20
The block on the corner of Yarrawonga Road and the Stuart Highway is to be developed by H & K Earthmoving for a `Truck City' form of petrol station plus a workshop etc, with the current exit to the Stuart Highway from Yarrawonga Road on its boundary and a planned new exit to the Stuart Highway close to the Tulagi Road turn-off from the Stuart
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Highway and round to Robertson Barracks. Will the minister assure me that he will monitor this project carefully to ensure that it will not contribute to further Northern Territory road fatalities? I do not want to be in the sad position of saying, `I told you so', after a fatality resulting from an accident there in the future. I have a similar concern in relation to the new access road at the Mobil service station on the Stuart Highway round the corner from McMillans Road.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, the site she refers to is in the immediate vicinity of the turn-off to Wallaby Holtz Road as well and, as we know, the honourable member lives on Wallaby Holtz Road. Thus, she would have a very personal interest in this particular development.
Unfortunately, a man did die at that intersection. In fact, there is a cross bearing the name, `Thommo', at that intersection. That fatality occurred before any development had taken place in that area.
I am concerned about traffic flow in the area of the Yarrawonga Road intersection and also in the Palmerston area. There is a plan to duplicate the Palmerston bypass. I am concerned that road trains have to come through the Palmerston area, as they do at the moment. Those members who live out that way will be aware that another intersection is being constructed now on the Stuart Highway between the 2 sets of traffic lights at Palmerston, between Temple Terrace and University Avenue. I doubt very much whether 2 road trains could fit between that intersection and the first set of traffic lights.
I have asked the Department of Transport and Works to look at the design of the duplication of the road, from the Howard Springs lights and back past the intersection that the member is talking about, to try to avoid traffic passing Palmerston going through the town area. I would be happy to provide a briefing to the member to enable her to look at the proposed duplication of that highway. I think she will find that the work that the traffic section's engineering staff are doing in that area will provide her with some comfort.
Mrs Padgham-Purich: It will not happen for 5 years.
Mr COULTER: It may be done earlier than that, in that Palmerston area. The growth of Palmerston may create a need to expedite duplication of that stretch of highway. The honourable member is correct in saying that it had been proposed to happen in 5 years time but, as recently as yesterday, we were talking about possible acceleration of duplication of that stretch of highway. I think it is warranted. My concern is that there will be an accident in the Palmerston area as a consequence of the number of intersections that are being proposed there.
I am aware of the honourable member's concerns. As I said, there has been a fatality already at that intersection prior to any development in that area. I am happy to provide her with a full briefing about what is planned for the development there.
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Highway and round to Robertson Barracks. Will the minister assure me that he will monitor this project carefully to ensure that it will not contribute to further Northern Territory road fatalities? I do not want to be in the sad position of saying, `I told you so', after a fatality resulting from an accident there in the future. I have a similar concern in relation to the new access road at the Mobil service station on the Stuart Highway round the corner from McMillans Road.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, the site she refers to is in the immediate vicinity of the turn-off to Wallaby Holtz Road as well and, as we know, the honourable member lives on Wallaby Holtz Road. Thus, she would have a very personal interest in this particular development.
Unfortunately, a man did die at that intersection. In fact, there is a cross bearing the name, `Thommo', at that intersection. That fatality occurred before any development had taken place in that area.
I am concerned about traffic flow in the area of the Yarrawonga Road intersection and also in the Palmerston area. There is a plan to duplicate the Palmerston bypass. I am concerned that road trains have to come through the Palmerston area, as they do at the moment. Those members who live out that way will be aware that another intersection is being constructed now on the Stuart Highway between the 2 sets of traffic lights at Palmerston, between Temple Terrace and University Avenue. I doubt very much whether 2 road trains could fit between that intersection and the first set of traffic lights.
I have asked the Department of Transport and Works to look at the design of the duplication of the road, from the Howard Springs lights and back past the intersection that the member is talking about, to try to avoid traffic passing Palmerston going through the town area. I would be happy to provide a briefing to the member to enable her to look at the proposed duplication of that highway. I think she will find that the work that the traffic section's engineering staff are doing in that area will provide her with some comfort.
Mrs Padgham-Purich: It will not happen for 5 years.
Mr COULTER: It may be done earlier than that, in that Palmerston area. The growth of Palmerston may create a need to expedite duplication of that stretch of highway. The honourable member is correct in saying that it had been proposed to happen in 5 years time but, as recently as yesterday, we were talking about possible acceleration of duplication of that stretch of highway. I think it is warranted. My concern is that there will be an accident in the Palmerston area as a consequence of the number of intersections that are being proposed there.
I am aware of the honourable member's concerns. As I said, there has been a fatality already at that intersection prior to any development in that area. I am happy to provide her with a full briefing about what is planned for the development there.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016