Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads) (20:07): I pay tribute to all of the people across regional New South Wales engaged in roadwork who are upgrading and completing State roads. In my own electorate of Maitland we are seeing improvements along the Pacific Highway with the commencement of the historic extension of the M1 to Raymond Terrace, which will put a new bridge over the Hunter River. The Government also announced the awarding of a contract for the Singleton bypass last weekend, and there is a lot of work being done on the Muswellbrook bypass. For generations, men and women have braved the elements of the outback in far western New South Wales to undertake the final sealing of New South Wales's highways.
For more than a decade, some 150 men have been working on the last of those projects: the Silver City and Cobb highways. Workers have been camping hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest town, spending many months away from their families and loved ones. They often work in extreme heat, 50 degrees or more, and suffer freezing nights during the winter. I was honoured to celebrate the end of this project with those workers at a community gathering at Mount Monara earlier this month, along with the member for Barwon. I cut the ribbon to mark the sealing of New South Wales' last major unsealed highway, and unveiled a plaque on a large rock near where the highway route was diverted as part of the sealing process to avoid a site that is sacred to the local traditional owners.
After a warm welcome to country from Badger Bates from Barkindji Malyangapa and Big Jim West from Ngiyampaa, followed by some official speeches, the students and teachers from Ivanhoe Central School gave a rousing rendition of their school song and read some wonderful poems they had written. I do note that they may have to change the following lyrics of their school song. In the spirit of member for Camden, I will have a crack at singing members the lines so they get the gist. I did only hear it once, though, so forgive me. The song went:
Roads you may travel from many miles away,
Hillston, Menindee, Wilcannia and Hay
Broken Hill and Cobar, singing as you go:
"Where do all the dirt roads finish? Ivanhoe."
However, now that the Cobb Highway is sealed, that is not accurate anymore. I give special thanks to MIA Coaches Griffith, which brought the students along for that very exciting song—the students sang it much better than I did. I also thank the CWA ladies from Ivanhoe, who prepared a delicious repast that was enjoyed by everyone. I thank them for their genuine, warm country hospitality. I also thank former member for Murray‑Darling and former Mayor of Broken Hill Mr Peter "Blackie" Black, OAM, and local landowner Mr John Elliott, who addressed the gathering to talk about their long advocacy for the project over generations. The chair of Wilcannia Tourism, Mr Bill Elliott, and former member for Murray‑Darling Mr John Williams, OAM, were also in attendance. We had apologies from the Hon. Duncan Gay and the Hon. Melinda Pavey.
It was a truly bipartisan, nation-building project. It is a significant event for New South Wales transport. I again thank everyone in Transport for NSW and all the contractors and workers who have contributed to this project over many decades. In fact, when working out how long the project had been going, archival footage of old‑style caravans from the fifties was found. This process has been going on for many years in the outback. Together with the men and women who have made those incredible personal sacrifices to complete this work, Transport for NSW has realised a fully sealed highway network for the first time in our State's history. Indeed, it is a great achievement for any State in this extensive Commonwealth to have a fully sealed highway network.
Those men and women came together over months, years and decades and put their shoulders to the wheel to complete this mammoth, seemingly unending and historic task. On behalf of everyone in those remote regional areas, I say thank you. Those people have improved safety on our outback roads for future generations. They have increased productivity for farmers and freight carriers in some of the remotest areas of our State. They have made it so much easier for people to get to hospital and other health services, to get to school and other educational opportunities, to pursue important work and other economic opportunities, and even to do things that those in the metropolitan regions take for granted, such as playing sport and gathering for social meetings. Those people are an inspiration to us all. On behalf of the people of New South Wales, and indeed our nation, I acknowledge that we owe them a debt of gratitude forever. I thank the House.
TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Jason Li): I thank the member for Maitland. That was well sung.
