Wollondilly voter snapshot: Local roads the top issue

Friday, 24 June 2016

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor says a recent snapshot of Wollondilly voters shows the condition of local roads is a main issue for voters this election.

Mr Taylor said his office had made more than 150,000 contacts with Hume voters – newsletters, surveys, phone calls, emails, street stalls and doorknocking - since the election had been called in early May.

“We have had a strong response to the Hume Community Surveys, sent with newsletters to all 53,000 households in Hume. I have been really encouraged by the level of engagement from voters in the electorate who have taken the time to fill in surveys, to answer our phone canvassing calls, to open the door to our volunteer doorknocking team and to send in emails.

“I thank everyone for their feedback. This is exactly how I determine the issues that matter to local people, right down to street level,” Mr Taylor said.

Many more men than women have completed the surveys. Electorate wide the top survey issues (in order of highest number of responses) were:

Securing Australia’s borders / Building a strong economy / Improving healthcare / Building better roads

“After the feedback I have received from Wollondilly residents – from phone canvassing in Wilton, Thirlmere, Menangle and Belimbla Park - and from my recent visits to the area, it is clear to me that investment in roads is front of mind for so many commuters.

“This is why the Turnbull Government’s $50 million commitment for targeted works on Appin Road between Rosemeadow and Appin has been welcomed by the community. The Coalition Government has invested $5.5 million in roads in the shire through to 2019 via the Roads to Recovery program, $1.3million for black spot roadworks on the Hume Highway at Yanderra, $380,000 for the Oaks Road at Thirlmere, $130,000 for Remembrance Drive at Tahmoor and $36,000 for Montpellier Drive at Mowbray Park.”

Mr Taylor said a new high school at Picton and more local GPs were also raised as issues.