The notorious Heathcote Road has been talked about in this place many times before. Unfortunately, that talk has been followed by little action. Heathcote Road serves as a major arterial road connecting the Sutherland, Liverpool, Bankstown and Holsworthy communities. As many residents in the northern end of the Heathcote electorate know, traversing Heathcote Road is fraught with danger, particularly east of New Illawarra Road and over the Woronora River. The data is irrefutable. Centre for Road Safety statistics show that between 2017 and 2021 there were several serious crashes between the Heathcote Road and Princes Highway intersection, and the Heathcote Road and New Illawarra Road highway intersection. One incident alone in 2021 resulted in five serious injuries. Almost a dozen other motorists were involved in accidents, some with moderate injuries, as well as many other less serious incidents.
A number of fatalities have occurred on Heathcote Road as well. The latest fatality was in October 2019 when a head-on collision between two cars resulted in the death of one of the occupants. That fatality occurred four years after off-duty firefighter Drew Cullen died when his vehicle was hit by a truck. The truck driver who collided with Mr Cullen's vehicle was eventually found guilty of dangerous driving occasioning death and driving in a dangerous manner. Whilst the actions of individual drivers are an aspect of motorist behaviour that we will never be able to fully control, we can ensure that roads are safe and fit for purpose. It is for that reason that I am incredibly proud of NSW Labor's commitment to invest $180 million on top of the existing funding for upgrades to Heathcote Road.
That funding will make a real difference and, importantly, will improve safety for the many motorists who use the road. In 2021 it was noted that 36,000 motorists used the road every day. It would be safe to assume that that number has only increased since then. I have lived in Engadine for 52 years, so I can say with certainty that voters in the Heathcote electorate have long memories. When they are promised something, they expect it to be delivered. The former Government's promise to duplicate the bridge over the Woronora River prior to the 2019 New South Wales election was nothing short of a blatant attempt to secure votes. The history books show that the duplication of the bridge never occurred. Instead, a one-way bridge, which is still under construction, is what eventuated. Anyone who uses Heathcote Road on a regular basis knows that half-baked solutions will not suffice, nor will the former Government's excuses.
Blaming bureaucrats for misleading voters regarding its commitment to building a dual carriageway over the Woronora Bridge was appalling. Members opposite were always happy to pose in front of cameras for photo opportunities but, when hard work was required, they vanished like David Copperfield. My heart skips a beat every time I hear an emergency siren heading in the vicinity of Heathcote Road. The former Government made a lot of promises about Heathcote Road over the past 12 years; however, we only saw cosmetic works and half‑baked promises. There was never any real action or political will from those opposite—now the Opposition—to address the serious safety concerns on Heathcote Road.
I cannot recall exactly how many hours I have spent traversing the hills in the Heathcote electorate, knocking on peoples' doors and asking them what issues they would like to raise. I vividly recall and have noted the many residents who were frustrated and angry with the lack of work and progress on Heathcote Road since 2011. I vowed that a Minns Labor Government would not do likewise, and I am proud that a Minns Labor Government will not do likewise. I met a woman during pre-poll who told me that her husband was one of the many fatalities on Heathcote Road. I promised her that, if elected, we would do this together. A safe and upgraded Heathcote Road will benefit not just residents in my electorate but also thousands of other motorists who use the road on a regular basis. Importantly, it will result in fewer accidents and fewer fatalities. It is the right thing to do.
