By NIKKI TODD
THERE is little light at the end of the tunnel for Kennedy Drive commuters as the road remains a political football at Tweed Shire Council.
Councillors at last week’s council meeting dismissed a motion put forward by Cr Warren Polglase, calling on candidates at the upcoming Federal Election to commit to help fund the upgrade of the western section of the busy thoroughfare.
The motion, lost 4:3 on the casting vote of Mayor Barry Longland, was put during the discussion of a council report into the upgrade and repair of Kennedy Drive West.
The $7.96 upgrade of Kennedy Drive West was deferred in 2010 to make way for the Kirkwood Road interchange which is currently under construction.
The report showed no work, other than the usual maintenance of potholes, is budgeted to be undertaken on Kennedy Drive until 2016/17 when $1 million has been allocated to reconstruct part of the western section of the road.
That reconstruction is expected to coincide with a $1.3 million water services upgrade to the area.
The report further found council could not even consider borrowing funds to upgrade Kennedy Drive for at least 18 months when construction of the Kirkwood Road interchange was completed.
But Cr Polglase said the community could not wait that long.
“Kennedy Drive is one of our worst roads in the Tweed and one of the most used roads in the Tweed,’’ Cr Polglase said.
“I believe we as a council should get support from anyone standing for Federal Government in Richmond to come out and make a statement to promise to help us fund Kennedy Drive.
“We are playing politics, I know, but that is the only way you can get the funding sometimes. It is an ideal opportunity, it is the worst road we’ve got and there’s a federal election coming.’’
Cr Polglase said similar tactics had worked in the past, citing the successful lobbying for funds to build the Murwillumbah Community Centre.
“Council needs to be more proactive in dealing with governments, whether they are in opposition or in government,’’ he said.
But Cr Longland said he did not think Council Chambers was the place to play politics.
“I don’t think it is appropriate that we should have used that council meeting to somehow try and wedge the candidates,’’ Cr Longland said.
“There is plenty of opportunity for councillors to promote the idea of more federal intervention at Kennedy Drive.
“I didn’t think the chamber should be used for such politics, particularly when you consider that the reason Kennedy Drive is in such a bad state financially and we are having problems funding works there is because the former council, when (Cr Polglase) was the mayor, determined that priorities should change and be directed towards Kirkwood Road.
“We are paying for an interchange on the M1 and we are doing it because Warren led the charge for South Tweed business operators who wanted better access into the retail zone.’’
But Cr Polglase said council would have lost $5 million pledged by the NSW Government if it had delayed the Kirkwood Road project.
Deputy Mayor Michael Armstrong, who called for the report to be compiled, said he was disappointed Kennedy Drive had been politicised.
“While it is disappointing that some have attempted to use this report as an opportunity to politicise this important issue, it is important for the more than 15,000 locals who drive on this road everyday to understand why Kennedy Drive is in its current state of repair and what the council is planning to do to help locals,’’ Mr Armstrong said.
“This report now gives some clear direction as to the repair and upgrade of Kennedy Drive.’’
To view the full report visit the July 18 council agenda at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/councilmeetings
