Stuart Ayres - Your Local Member for Penrith

Liberal Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres took his place in State Parliament today and immediately began working for his community by raising Nepean Hospital staffing as an issue in Question Time.

Mr Ayres asked his first question in State Parliament question time, directing it to Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt:

“Given the regularly overcrowded waiting room at Nepean’s emergency department – and the fact that the majority of senior nurses at this important hospital are only Acting in their positions – will you agree to meet with me in Penrith and a delegation of Nepean nurses to resolve these issues?”

Stuart is on High Street, Penrith, wrapping up the past weeks campaigning for the by-election in Penrith.

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The Victoria Bridge Community Taskforce has met its first deadline - to hold its first meeting on 3rd June.  I would like to thank the members of the Taskforce for sticking to the schedule as it is a sign of their commitment to get things done as soon as possible.

Importantly, the Taskforce set a deadline for work to begin and be completed on improving pedestrian and cycle access on the bridge.

The meeting resolved to:

1. Call on the Government and Opposition to fully fund a feasibility study into the Victoria Bridge to explore previous projects and future options including

a) Cantilever  on the northern side
b) Cantilever on the southern side
c) Pathway across the middle of the bridge
d) New stand alone bridge

2. Call on the Government and Opposition to commit to fund a new bridge structure at Victoria Bridge.

3. Call on the Government and Opposition to commit to a timeframe for completion of the Victoria Bridge with work to commence in the first twelve months of the new Government and completed by December 31 2013.

The Taskforce is writing to the Premier, Opposition Leader, Member for Lindsay David Bradbury, Roads Minister David Borger and Penrith Mayor Kevin Cameri requesting they commit to that timetable.

Liberal Candidate for Penrith Stuart Ayres and Liberal Candidate for Mulgoa Tanya Davies today slammed the State Labor Government for misleading the public on the construction of the promised Erskine Park Link Road.

In May 2009 then Planning Minister, now Premier Kristina Keneally promised action on the Erskine Park Link Road at a Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce function.[1]

Liberal Candidate for Penrith Stuart Ayres today said he was disappointed the Keneally Labor Government’s budget consigns Penrith motorists and commuters to years more traffic gridlock and slow trains.

“Yet again the State Labor Government has ignored the needs of Western Sydney’s motorists by failing to deliver any funding for the on again-off again M4 East extension,” Mr Ayres said.

Stuart Ayres and Kevin Humphries, the Shadow Minister for Healthy Lifestyles, went to the Hockey fields talk to representatives from the Penrith Hockey Association.

Liberal Candidate for Penrith Stuart Ayres said he will fight for desperately needed upgrades to the Penrith hockey fields at the University of Western Sydney, Kingswood campus.

Mr Ayres brought Shadow Minister for Healthy Lifestyles Kevin Humphries to Penrith to meet with representatives from the Penrith Hockey Association and lobby for desperately needed field upgrades.

Liberal Candidate for Penrith Stuart Ayres is looking forward to working with the NSW Shadow Cabinet in developing a response to the Penrith Business Community’s ‘10 Big Ideas to Grow Penrith’.

“The 10 big ideas are very innovative and the Penrith Business Community should be congratulated for putting forward such an exciting vision for Penrith’s future,” Mr Ayres said.

NSW Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell, Shadow Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian and Liberal Candidate for Penrith Stuart Ayres today announced the NSW Liberals’ plan to deliver faster, more frequent and safer transport services for Penrith and Lower Mountains residents.

“Stuart Ayres and I have spent many mornings talking to commuters at train stations across the Penrith electorate and the key message is that they want faster, more frequent trains and to feel safe at train stations,” Mr O’Farrell said.