Less than two hours drive from Sydney, you will find a town at the
foothills of the magnificent Barrington Tops. The people are friendly,
the air is fresh, the cafe food is hot and the beds are comfortable.
While you are there you can learn about cattle or dairy farming, visit
the nationally recognised Dungog Film Festival, watch an event at the
beautifully manicured showground, buy a new outfit at a boutique or
just walk the heritage streets. That little town is called Dungog. This
little town is now facing the biggest challenge of its existence
because of the actions of, and inaction by, our state and federal Labor
governments. However, the great thing about challenges is that they
present opportunity for growth, and I have no doubt we can emerge
stronger than ever with the right support.
The Dungog business and residential community has been in a flux of
turmoil since 2006, when the New South Wales Labor government announced
plans to build the $477 million Tillegra Dam just north of the town.
Many believe the announcement served only to divert attention away from
the Milton Orkopoulos child sex scandal. It took until November 2010
for the Premier to see sense and cancel the project. This was on the
back-end of four years of uncertainty, and a massive campaign
spearheaded by the local people. By that time, the state Labor
government had already wasted $100 million of taxpayers’ money on the
project, jeopardised local investment, and left the town in limbo
regarding its future.
Now, the people of Dungog have come together to plan on how best to
revitalise their home. Their focus on roads, community infrastructure,
employment and tourism is supported by the coalition. Other priorities
include ensuring hospital and rail services are retained, and
maintaining Dungog’s independent local government status.
I was saddened to read that the Dungog Shire Action Initiative felt
dismayed after a press conference with Hunter minister Jodi McKay, in
which she suggested the community was not adequately prepared to work
towards the revitalisation. Ms McKay must not have spent much time in
Dungog. In my time as a federal member, I have found the people to be
some of the most sincere and hardworking I have ever encountered. It is
a shame Ms McKay had no representative at a community meeting held in
Dungog on 15 December, where hundreds of people worked together to
discuss a renewal plan and suggested dozens of viable, workable
solutions.
I am pleased that the state coalition today pledged $20 million to
upgrade Main Road 301, which is desperately needed to kick-start all
other areas of the town’s renewal. It would be a boost for tourism,
business and residents. I have always said that when you build a road,
you create a highway to opportunity. On behalf of the federal coalition
I repledged my own roads package last year, and it remains coalition
policy to deliver $20 million to upgrade Main Road 301 and $5 million
to fix Main Road 7778-Gresford Road, to be delivered in addition to the
state funding.
Continued health services in the shire are also vital. That is why,
after community consultation, I lobbied federal health minister Nicola
Roxon to redirect the $7 million she promised for a GP superclinic in
Raymond Terrace, and instead invest $3m in the HealthOne clinic already
planned for Raymond Terrace, with the rest to be split between the
Medowie-Salt Ash region and the Dungog area. I urge all residents to
register and attend the government’s consultation meeting on 7 March at
Raymond Terrace Bowling Club at six o’clock to help convince Ms Roxon
to invest in Dungog.
Testament to the community’s proactive and resilient nature,
residents have not waited for a solution from government. Instead, they
have organised a community sporting challenge. The GP Stakes will raise
money to attract a new local practising GP. The target fundraising goal
of $20,000 has already been reached thanks to the overwhelming
generosity of the local community. This should not be necessary. Former
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised that when it came to health, the
buck would stop with him. Despite this, Dungog has lost a GP and
residents have had to fund a public campaign to secure a replacement.
It is not good enough. The Gillard Labor government needs to start a
proper dialogue with the community to get the outcomes it well and
truly deserves, and I look forward to working together to achieve the
bright future I know is possible. To my Dungog community I say this:
you are not forgotten, and you will not be forgotten either by me or by
the coalition.
