Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) (15:15): My question is directed to the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight. I should note that it is probably on behalf of the member for Charlestown too. Noting that it is now 12 months since the tragic death of 15-year-old Lake Macquarie girl Jade Frith on Hillsborough Road at Warners Bay, will the Minister advise the stage the planned road upgrade is at and when we will see work start on much-needed improvements?
Mrs MELINDA PAVEY (Oxley—Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight) (15:16): I thank the member for Lake Macquarie for his question on behalf of Jade, a resident of his electorate, and her family. I also acknowledge the member for Charlestown on this occasion. It has been a very difficult period since 26 April last year. To lose such a magnificent young woman in the prime of her life on her way to swimming practice has obviously had a terrible effect on the community. Through the work of people like the members for Lake Macquarie and Charlestown and community members, there has been a lot of work going on within Roads and Maritime Services on that section of road. Because of that advocacy and because of the situation, I am expecting that we will have an announcement in this year's budget on that front to improve safety in this section of road.
I am currently reviewing the strategy for the road corridor for Charlestown to Warners Bay. It identifies short, medium and long term road investment priorities to address safety, travel time, reliability and incident management challenges on this road corridor. I expect that we will have that corridor strategy released by the end of this year. We are paying great attention to that. On the issue of pedestrian fatalities, last year was a very bad year on New South Wales roads for pedestrian fatalities but this year we are tracking much better. One is always too many, but we are nine better than we were this time last year, which is important in terms of our focus on Towards Zero.
I was joined yesterday by the police Minister as we launched 18 new drug testing vehicles through NSW Police funded by our community safety strategies to ensure that we continue all efforts, whether it is pedestrian, speeding or fatigue campaigns—whatever we can do to drive the road toll to a lower point. That is something I know all members of this House would agree to. It is also incumbent on us to take personal responsibility to make safer choices. I always encourage people to do that. I thank the member for his question. It has been a very difficult time for the family and that community. I expect that there will be some work announced in this budget that will give some relief.