Premier Gladys Berejiklian signs tunnel agreement ahead of North Shore by-election
PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has signed a handwritten banner to show her commitment to making the tunnel bypassing Mosman happen.
Mosman
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mosman. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AN obscure action group has secured a signed guarantee from Premier Gladys Berejiklian that a tunnel bypassing Mosman will happen.
The Sensible Traffic Action Group reactivated its campaign for a tunnel on the back of the by-election. STAG has been quiet for seven years.
STAG co-founders Peter Papas and Geoff Kendall were summoned to Parliament House on Tuesday to meet the Premier for a photo opportunity.
She signed a giant hand-drawn sign with a message the Beaches Link tunnel is guaranteed to start by 2019.
STAG is confident it was more than a symbolic gesture and is a political commitment by the Liberal Party.
“The whole point of today’s announcement was to remove scepticism,” Mr Papas said.
“They now have a contract with the people of the state to deliver this project and not to do so would be political suicide.”
The 11th-hour signing comes just days before voters go to the polls in the North Shore by-election.
STAG stated the next stages of work, expected to be completed by mid-2018, include construction timelines and costings.
The funding strategy includes tolling and private sector involvement.
STAG says it accepts the Government’s reasons for withholding further details.
Ms Berejiklian said she was grateful STAG approached her and asked her to take part in the signing. She said she has known the group for a long time.
“I will take every opportunity I can to confirm and to express to the community that this is definitely going to happen,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Ms Berejiklian anticipates construction will start in the next two years and will take about five years.
“This is happening,” she said. “It has to happen. Every part of the community in NSW needs to feel they are getting their fair share and the north shore is no exception.”
At this stage 71 properties are set to be bought to make way for the project but she expects more could be affected.
Waratahs trial standouts, Suaalii injury and a rugby dream for young gun
It’s a time he hated but this painful interlude in Waratahs young gun Henry O’Donnell’s life could well pave the way to his future success in the game. Tahs v Brumbies trial wrap
Dramatic arrest when car crashes after alleged police chase
A man has been hit with a string of charges after allegedly taking police on a chase in a stolen Mercedes before it was involved in a crash on the northern beaches.