Traffic and road safety remains a hot-button issue for motorists on the South Coast - anyone who tries to drive either side of Nowra or to and from Wollongong in peak hour is well aware of the growing problem with congestion.

In her first speeches to Federal Parliament last week after being re-elected as the Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips highlighted the transport issues which remain a top priority in the electorate.

Phillips also spoke about the importance of supporting regional Australia through the cost of living crisis, strengthening Medicare, cutting student debt by 20 per cent and assisting people with disability to live their best life.

The Labor member is also the chair of the NSW Black Spot Consultative Panel and she told The Bugle that upgrades to the Princes Highway would make a major difference.

“Road safety is a top priority for me and our communities deserve to have better roads that improve connectivity and, of course safety,” she said.

“I’m really pleased to see the duplication of the Princes Highway continuing, which includes the new Jervis Bay Flyover that is under construction, and the upgrade of six kilometres of the highway south to Hawken Road, thanks to an injection of $400 million from the Albanese Labor Government.

“I drive these roads every day, so I understand the frustration during peak times, which is why I’m pleased to see the Princes Highway duplication moving forward and the Nowra and Milton-Ulladulla Bypass planning well underway.

“Both major infrastructure projects are crucial to improving the liveability and safety for locals as well as visitors to our region.

“The fact is that effectively no work occurred on the Nowra Bypass under the previous Federal and State Liberal Governments. Now we are getting on with the planning work needed to kickstart this project.

“Transport for NSW has been continuing to progress critical early planning, including traffic modelling, identifying environmental and flooding constraints, and shortlisting alignment options.

“The Kiama Local Housing Strategy provides very real opportunities for new roads to help improve traffic flow which will benefit the region.”

Phillips said the $1.5 billion Housing Support Program is one of a range of measures designed to help alleviate the lack of accommodation nationwide.

“We have an innovative housing plan to increase the number of homes across Australia, including in Kiama,” she said.

“The program’s Community Enabling Infrastructure Stream will help councils build important infrastructure, including roads, roundabouts, bike paths and car parks that will provide safe access to future housing developments on the South Coast.”

The Jervis Bay intersection has the highest volume of vehicle movements on the Princes Highway between Nowra and the Victorian border.

“People are excited to see work on the flyover and two new roundabouts moving ahead in leaps and bounds and I can’t wait to see it completed,” she added.

“I’m proud to say there are so many road projects underway or in the planning stages that will bring massive benefits to our region.

With a housing boom in the pipeline for the region, Phillips said the Government was committed to maintaining and upgrading infrastructure that will “improve traffic flow and streamline access points to popular residential and tourist spots”.

“We know the South Coast is getting busier with visitors and more people moving to the area.

“There is more demand and need for housing which also means a greater need for roads.

“As well as the big-ticket road projects, I'm proud to have provided federal funding to our local councils, including Kiama Council, for local roadworks around Kiama and Jamberoo.”

Phillips pointed to infrastructure betterment funding to repair Jamberoo Mountain Road, Foxground Road and Wallaby Hill Road as ways in which the area was being made more resilient for future natural disasters.

“The Federal Government is progressively doubling Roads to Recovery funding which means our local councils will have more funding to fix more local roads, and we’re increasing the federal Road Black Spot Program to $150 million per year.”

She said the $200 million Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program would continue to support local councils to improve their local road networks.

Phillips said planning and design work was progressing in partnership with Shoalhaven Council on the future East Nowra Sub Arterial Road to address key traffic pinch points and reduce congestion in and around Nowra.