Melinda Pavey withdraws traffic speed zone appeal in Coffs Harbour Local Court

Former NSW roads minister Melinda Pavey has apologised to Coffs Harbour court for making a “serious error of judgement” on the road. See what her blunder was.

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh, with former Coffs Harbour Mayor Denise Knight and Melinda Pavey, who was Water, Property and Housing Minister at the time at the Coffs Harbour Jetty in April 2021.

Former NSW roads minister Melinda Pavey has apologised to Coffs Harbour court for making a “serious error of judgement” on the road by failing to slow down in a construction zone.

Pavey, who lives in Urunga, entered parliament in the state’s upper house in 2002 and was The Nationals Member for Oxley - which takes in Bellingen, Kempsey and Nambucca shires - from 2015 up until the March 2023 election when she didn’t recontest.

During her time as Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight from early 2017 to March 2019 Pavey and Coffs Harbour council were at odds over plans for the town’s bypass.

When designs were released showing cuttings instead of long-awaited tunnels then-mayor Denise Knight declared Coffs Harbour was getting an “el cheapo” bypass and councillors voted unanimously to form a working group to fight for tunnels to be reinstated.

Melinda Pavey, pictured in 2021 at Menindee Lakes was the NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing between 2019 and 2021. Picture: Richard Dobson

Pavey described it as grandstanding and Federal Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker at the time called it a stunt and waste of ratepayers’ money.

It was considered a win for people power when the EIS was eventually released in September 2019 showing tunnels and not cuttings.

After the roads portfolio she was minister for water, property and housing between 2019 and 2021.

Pavey’s appeal of an RMS decision suspending her licence was listed in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday but the former politician did not appear in person on the day.

Coffs Harbour bypass construction on the southern approach to town.

Pavey, 55, lodged the appeal on April 12 with a supporting email saying: “I have made a serious error of judgement by failing to slow down in the construction speed zone. I sincerely apologise to the court”.

The Daily Telegraph understand it was in the 60km per hour zone on the southern approach to Coffs which has been implemented to allow for construction on the bypass.

Melinda Pavey speaks during Question Time at NSW Parliament House in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi.

She went on to say that she needed her licence to attend work commitments and for regular travel to Sydney and that “public transport it not an option” for her.

Pavey also outlined her voluntary work with the NFP Shoretrack board in the Nambucca Valley supporting young people into employment and further education.

Now she has withdrawn her appeal, the court has dismissed the matter.

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