Tuesday, 16 August 2022

Highett level crossings

Mr ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (19:20): (6484) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The action that I seek is for the Andrews Labor government to do the right thing by the people and the community of Highett by matching my commitment to remove both of the Highett Road and Wickham Road level crossings in Highett. On Sunday I was joined by the Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Matthew Bach, a Liberal member in the other place, to announce that a future Liberal government would indeed respond to the needs of the community by committing to remove the Highett Road and Wickham Road level crossings.

Those in this place know full well that this has been a major point of advocacy for me on behalf of my community, not only as the elected local member but as the community champion of my local area fighting for both of these level crossings to be removed since I was elected. I was joined at that announcement by the deputy mayor of the City of Kingston, Cr Jenna Davey-Burns, and the deputy mayor of the Bayside City Council, Cr Hanna El Mouallem. I was also joined by members of the Highett Community Bank, and I have since spoken to and heard from members of the Highett Neighbourhood Community House and the Highett Youth Club as well. At the announcement itself on Sunday there were some 35 to 40 community members there. We also live streamed the announcement, so there are many people who have seen this, who would know of this commitment and who understand just how transformational this commitment, when delivered, will be for the Highett community.

You see, Deputy Speaker, I do not think that the Andrews Labor government actually understands the Highett community very well at all. Their plan is to remove more than 40 per cent of the Sir William Fry Reserve with the construction of the Suburban Rail Loop, removing open space and removing parkland, whilst at the same time wanting to increase the population in Highett. They want to develop the vast majority of the Highett gas and fuel land on the Nepean Highway in Highett, some 6.3 hectares of land, with high-density, high-rise accommodation, and they have no plan to remove the Highett Road and Wickham Road level crossings. And at the same time, just a stone’s throw from there, the Bayside council has approved a development of more than 1100 dwellings on Graham Road in Highett.

My commitment to my community delivers for Highett. It demonstrates that I not only know the needs of Highett but understand them, and I am not just talking about it but wanting to do something about it as well. I implore the Andrews Labor government, through the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, to do what they can to listen to the needs of Highett and to act. It is only through the commitment of the Andrews Labor government, together with my commitment, that this community will have the certainty that it deserves.