The contentious Northern Distributor Road could finally be taken out of Orange City Council's hands by government, but don't hold your breath for a new sporting complex.
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Deputy Opposition leader Penny Sharpe rode into Orange on board Labor's big red bus on Friday promising funding for roads, schools and TAFE but not stadiums.
Ms Sharpe said, if elected, Labor would review the designation of regional roads including the Northern Distributor, "whether they are state roads, whether they are local roads and who's responsible."
She said the state government had failed to carry out regular reviews.
"Every five years there is supposed to be a review of that and we're going to commit to that straight away," she said.
Every five years there is supposed to be a review of that and we're going to commit to that straight away.
- Penny Sharpe, Deputy Opposition Leader
Ms Sharpe said Labor would await the findings of the review before making a commitment on the Northern Distributor.
"We're not committing up front to how we would do that but we are committing to doing the review," she said.
She said after the NRMA had identified $900 million worth of roads that were considered in a "poor or very poor condition" in NSW, Labor would work with councils to spend $900 million fixing the worst of them.
"We recognise regional roads are incredibly important to connecting people, connecting produce, connecting freight, we want to see them fixed, they are in a very poor state, $900 million is a very big commitment that we are making."
However, Ms Sharpe did not commit to supporting the government's pledge to spend $25 million on a sports complex for Orange.
"Our commitment is about schools and hospitals before stadiums," she said.
However, she said Labor had not yet announced its sporting pledges.
"Our priorities are proper investments in the regions, we know there has been massive under spends there and we are going to be saying a lot more about sports and local facilities coming into the election campaign."
Ms Sharpe said they were determined to rebuild TAFE in NSW after courses and teacher and student numbers had been cut.
"We are guaranteeing 600,000 free TAFE places for areas of skills shortages across NSW," she said.
"Here in Orange it is going to mean people will be able to take up the courses they want to take up, in areas that you need, whether its plumbing or electrical, or importantly some of the service areas."
Labor candidate for Orange Luke Sanger said he had been educated at TAFE doing his HSC and courses in welding and tourism and hospitality.
"When I came here this car park was full of students' cars, now it is empty. There are no students left," he said.
Ms Sharpe also said the Parents and Citizens committees at every Orange school would receive $5000.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
