Tunnel to open as polls close – NSW DECIDES: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 24 Feb 2007: 7.
Show highlighting
Abstract
Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal said his Government had wanted the Lane Cove tunnel open “as soon as possible”, that they had never suggested a specific opening date to the owner-operators and that the day had been decided soley by Connector Motorways.
Full Text
THE NSW Government has brushed off criticism that the opening of the Lane Cove Tunnel on Sydney’s North Shore the day after theelection had been timed to avoid a voter backlash.
Earlier this year, Premier Morris Iemma claimed he wanted to see the controversial tunnel opened before the poll.
Connector Motorways chief executive Ian Hunt said the opening of the tunnel on March25 was “absolutely a coincidence”.
“I can say to you, categorically, that there has been no leaning on us, whatsoever, to come up with that date,” he said.
Opposition road infrastructure spokesman Andrew Stoner said Labor was seeking to avoid another Cross City Tunnel-style controversy on the eve of an election.
Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal said his Government had wanted the Lane Cove tunnel open “as soon as possible”, that they had never suggested a specific opening date to the owner-operators and that the day had been decided soley by Connector Motorways.