New Minister agrees to look into Pacific Highway upgrade - 1 March 2006

“I raised the matter in question time on the first day of parliamentary sittings for 2006 and was pleased that the Minister said he would be happy ‘to have another look at this matter’ ,” Mr Cohen said.

“The widening of the study area for the Ewingsdale/Tintenbar section, which could potentially negate the Ballina bypass, is another example of the arrogance and incompetence of the RTA’s planning style.

“The RTA has chosen the route in the Ballina to Woodburn section with the greatest ecological and social damage and its plans could wipe out a distinct threatened species of coastal eastern emus in the Grafton bypass section.

“I also asked the Minister to investigate the RTA's proposed destruction of the farmland of the Sikh community at Woolgoolga, which would have a catastrophic impact on the social fabric of that iconic community

“The reaction by Minister Roozendaal was at least receptive to the community concerns I was representing. This is a welcome contrast to his predecessors,” Mr Cohen said.