By MATT NICHOLLS
THE $1 million operations and training centre for surf lifesaving in Port Macquarie has become a political football ahead of Saturday’s federal election.
The centre was promised by the Labor Government under the Regional Development Australia fund, which was partly formed by retired Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott.
However, the Coalition has not promised to honour the projects formed by the Gillard/Rudd government, much to the ire of Lyne candidates Peter Alley and Steve Attkins.
Mr Alley, who is standing for Country Labor, said Nationals leader Warren Truss had not committed to all projects promised under the Regional Development Australia Fund.
Mr Truss was last week asked what would happen to the hundreds of projects in train under the Regional Development Australia Fund and said the Coalition would honour all signed contracts, but not necessarily any others.
“If there haven’t been contracts signed, then they are just Labor Party election promises,” Mr Truss said in the Australian Financial Review.
Independent Mr Attkins said he was concerned about the future of big ticket items set to be funded under the Regional Development Australia program, such as the lifesaving centre and Taree’s $38.5 million Northern Gateway transport hub.
Mr Attkins said the Nationals’ promise to provide Port Macquarie Tennis Club with $90,000 was great news for tennis players, but questioned why jobs-creating infrastructure projects already announced wouldn’t be funded.
“RDAF projects are job-generating projects. They will create employment opportunities and economic opportunities for our region,” Mr Attkins said.
“We need the National Party to commit to those projects; to honour agreements already struck and to make meaningful commitments to our region.”
Mr Alley said he wanted to continue the momentum of big funding in Lyne.
“We had 60 years of National Party representation in Lyne and nothing ever happened,” he said.
“Then Rob Oakeshott came along and was a strong advocate for this community and worked with a Labor Government to deliver for the people of Lyne.
“If Tony Abbott and the Nationals get in, we can wave goodbye to the transport hub and the 35 to 50 jobs that it would have created and the $200m of economic activity that it would generate.
“The $1m Operations and Training Centre for surf lifesaving in Port Macquarie – out the door.”
