FEDERAL Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman has called the proposed Grose Wold Bridge at Navua Reserve a short sighted approach.
The North Richmond Joint Venture, the outfit behind the Redbank development, has submitted a development application to build the bridge to Council.
It has been submitted under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, which means Hawkesbury Councilors will not vote on it.
Instead, Hawkesbury Council staff will assess the application and then Penrith Council will review Hawkesbury’s assessment.
Ms Templeman said the bridge would do little to address traffic problems in the Hawkesbury and would not help with flood evacuation.
“I am on the record as being in favour of a whole of Hawkesbury approach to building bridges, rather than a piecemeal approach,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the Navua plan is an example of fiddling around the edges without really addressing the fundamental traffic problems.
“It seems short sighted to be building a new structure across the Grose that relies on Yarramundi Bridge in order to access main roads, because we all know how readily Yarramundi floods.”
State Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet said it was absurd to think the bridge would not alleviate some of the traffic problems in the Hawkesbury.
“Labor may call it a bandaid solution but it will significantly reduce congestion,” he said.
“Labor are very good at sitting on the sidelines talking but never deliver anything.”
Ms Templeman said she would continue to push for a third crossing of the Hawkesbury.
“Federal Labor continues to argue for a commitment to a third crossing that would address not only the North Richmond issues that are exacerbated by the Redbank development but would also address the traffic flow problems across the region,” she said.
“We don’t just need a line drawn on a map that won’t become reality for 30 years, we need a financial commitment so the work can begin now.”