UNITED Australia Party Mallee candidate Stuart King says he is “getting rid of roadblocks”, announcing during the week that the party will commit to funding a new bridge for Swan Hill in the unlikely event that it is elected to government at the federal election in May.
Mr King told The Guardian that the building of a new Swan Hill bridge is a significant project for the region, and if elected, funds for the project will be allocated in the United Australia Party’s first budget.
“The importance of this bridge is not just for the Mallee, but for the Riverina and the electorate of Farrer on the other side,” he said.
“With the growth of more intensive agricultural and irrigated horticulture and stuff like that on the other side of the bridge, it’s a crucial link, an absolutely crucial link to this region.”
With the plans for the new bridge thought to be well underway with only some minor issues to sort out, Mr King believes it won’t take long to start the project if he is elected in May.
“We’re stuck in this game of political football where different parties or federal and state want to play handpass and blame the other one for not getting things done,” Mr King said.
“Let’s just get it done and get the political roadblocks out of the way, because political roadblocks don’t benefit regions, they don’t benefit the communities, and they don’t benefit regional economies.”
“All they do is frustrate people and make people even more disillusioned with politics than what they already are.”
Mr King said the next thing on his list will be the embattled Tooleybuc Bridge, which has been the cause of controversy over the past few weeks.
“Again, it’s a critical link for our regional economies,” Mr King said.
“Instead of finding reasons not to build them, let’s find the money to build them.”
Mr King said the replacement of the Swan Hill Bridge has been something members of the public have been wanting for some time, and he would work closely with the local councils on either side of the river to guarantee the best outcomes for local communities.
“Let’s stop playing politics and just get some stuff done.”
