Oatley Electorate Projects

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-128682

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Oatley Electorate Projects

Mr MARK COURE (OatleyMinister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Seniors) (17:07:48):

— I inform members of the House of the fantastic work that is taking place in the electorate of Oatley. Alongside the Government I am working hard to deliver real change for locals to make our area the best place to live, work and raise a family. I have called this area home all my life. Throughout my time in the St George area, I have seen it go from strength to strength thanks to investment from the Government. Having attended the local schools, I understand the importance of quality local education. Over the past 11 years we have delivered a wide range of upgrades to local schools in my electorate. Penshurst Public School has significantly benefited, receiving over $45 million in 2019 to completely redevelop the existing facilities. Penshurst Public School now stands as a crowning achievement in the local area, ensuring that local kids have access to the best possible education in New South Wales.

Penshurst West Public School has also seen major upgrades over the past seven years, receiving $8.8 million to build seven brand new classrooms. The development was completed in 2020 and has been warmly received by both students and staff. Penshurst West Public School is just one of many fantastic schools in my local area and I am proud of the educational opportunities that are available to kids. Members of the community frequently raise the issues of parking and congestion. The delivery of two brand new commuter carparks to Riverwood and Beverly Hills will tackle the issue of parking for those suburbs, providing convenient access to local hubs like shops and railway stations. Both carparks are multistorey, featuring 140 additional parking spaces in Riverwood and over 200 additional parking spaces in Beverly Hills. Commuters utilising those carparks will also have access to electric vehicle chargers and Opal-operated boom gates, which will provide free parking for those catching the train. We have also ensured that safety is a top priority for locals who use the facilities by installing extensive CCTV camera coverage at both carparks, alongside increased lighting. We are so excited that those projects are being delivered to Riverwood and Beverly Hills. I look forward to their official openings.

The widening of King Georges Road has been a top priority for many years. Recently the New South Wales Government committed an additional $30.2 million towards the project as a part of the 2022-23 State budget. The upgrades will provide three lanes in both directions and dedicated right-hand turning bays to increase safety. Construction is well underway and is expected to be completed by late 2024. The upgrades will decrease congestion and travel times for motorists in the local area and improve safety on that major road. The community has called for those upgrades for many years, so I am thrilled the project is off the ground. It is a great win for the local community and I thank everyone who backed our campaign. Congestion-busting projects like those help people to get where they need to go sooner and safer, so they can spend less time on the road and more time with their family and friends.

Finally, I acknowledge the success of the Return and Earn program in my electorate. The Return and Earn centre at Peakhurst is one of many reverse vending machines in our local area. The Peakhurst site, which provides six indoor machines in an air-conditioned facility, has had high levels of community engagement. Nearly 3.5 million containers were returned to the facility in less than 18 months. My community has wholeheartedly embraced the Return and Earn scheme—a scheme that I mentioned in my first years in Parliament. Local residents are doing their part to protect our beautiful environment from plastic waste, and that goes a long way. Those are just some of the many projects that are underway in the electorate of Oatley, and there is a pipeline of more important community projects to come. I am excited to see the real benefits that those significant infrastructure projects will bring to my community. I look forward to updating the House on their progress in future.