F3 Debacle

With the huge outcry over the debacle on the F3 last Monday night it seems that there could be little more to say.  The incident was blamed on an accident between a truck and a petrol tanker but the reality is the issue is really about the RTA response to that accident.  The incident left thousands of people stranded for hours in gridlock and was not just a major system failure; it was an indication of the contempt, arrogance and incompetence of the Roads and Traffic Authority in dealing with people. 

The accident that caused the problem needed to be dealt with in the most appropriate way by the emergency services however the management of the resulting problems also needed to be considered equally as seriously.  The risk of another medical emergency amongst people including many families was high, and I consider it only good luck that such an event didn’t occur.  It certainly wasn’t thanks to any action by the RTA! 

The standing aside of RTA CEO Michael Bushby is only part of the appropriate response and is no doubt in part an attempt to apportion blame neatly to one person.  The reality is that in this instance the Minister does share blame but steadfastly refuses to acknowledge it.  It is a farce for the Minister and the Premier to distance themselves from responsibility by stating that it would have been inappropriate to intervene in RTA operational matters.  Just when would interference be warranted? How many hours? How much distress or how many people? 

The reality is that Ministers and the Premier frequently involve themselves in operational matters and an example of being able to act quickly occurred only hours before when the Premier directed the Health Department to investigate claims of a cancer cluster in the Upper Hunter.  What were they thinking? Why when it came to the F3 was the Minister not on the phone to Mr Bushby ensuring that he was getting regular situation reports and stressing the urgency of implementing the contra-flow system? 

Residents of the Central Coast and Hunter or others needing to travel this road are rightly furious with the Government.  The impact on business in dollar terms would be huge but nobody should discount the value of the time lost to commuters returning home or other travellers needing to get somewhere as well.  

Ken Moroney has been appointed to head an inquiry into what occurred. I don’t know where he lives but I think it would be preferable if whoever was carrying out the inquiry regularly needed to commute on the F3. 

One outcome that must come from the inquiry is a change in culture of the RTA.  They are notorious for being difficult to deal with and even members of Parliament report that they are treated with disdain.  I feel a certain irony in that only two months ago in a speech to parliament I specifically referenced the contra-flow system and said “I compliment the Roads and Traffic Authority on its implementation of that strategy.”  I sure got that wrong!