The Iemma-Costa Labor Government’s announcement that it will pay $25 million to the operators to delay surface road works associated with the Lane Cove Tunnel was an outrageous misuse of taxpayers’ funds to try and buy Labor an electoral advantage at the State election, Anthony Roberts MP, Member for Lane Cove, said today.

Mr Roberts said Labor was using taxpayers’ money to ensure motorists and residents won’t be inconvenienced by surface road changes prior to the election.

“Roads Minister, Eric Roozendaal, today says he is simply implementing the findings of the Joint Parliamentary Inquiry by staggering the road changes. He relies on recommendation 3.120 which states:

“For future tunnel projects, the RTA should consider imposing a reasonable period between the completion of the tunnel and any disruptive changes to surface traffic arrangements.” (paragraph 3.120).

In his press release, Mr Roozendaal conveniently leaves out the first four words of the recommendation “For future tunnel projects”,” Mr Roberts said.

“This recommendation was made in relation to future road projects where the contract has not already been signed. This is not the case with the Lane Cove Tunnel. The contract was signed in 2003.

“With future tunnel projects the contract can be negotiated to include a reasonable period between the completion of the tunnel and any disruptive changes to surface traffic arrangements, without the need for taxpayers to compensate the operator.

“Labor has doctored the Inquiry’s quote to try and mount a justification for this gross misuse of taxpayers’ funds.

“Make no mistake, today’s announcement is purely to ensure surface road works - like narrowing Epping Road from three lanes of general traffic to one - do not begin before the March State election.”

Mr Roberts said under the Lane Cove Tunnel contract, the operators had 26 weeks after the tunnel’s opening to complete all surface road works.

“Labor is using taxpayers’ money to push the commencement of these works past the election date,” Mr Roberts said.