SCARBOROUGH MLA, Liza Harvey has welcomed the response by the Liberal-led State Government to her request for funding to fix the traffic chaos around the Scarborough foreshore.

Earlier this year, Mrs Harvey hosted the Honourable Troy Buswell, Minister for Transport in Scarborough and highlighted the traffic congestion being caused by only one lane for traffic to queue on Scarborough Beach Road West when exiting the foreshore.

The current traffic arrangement with only one lane on Scarborough Beach West is causing major congestion.

“Last month it took an ambulance over half an hour to exit the foreshore with a patient on board requiring medical treatment after a water rescue,” Mrs Harvey said.

“I have spoken with the City of Stirling on numerous occasions about the safety concerns raised by emergency personnel being unable to quickly get in and out of the Surf Lifesaving patrolled beach area.”

Mr Buswell said it was crucial that the congestion was dealt with immediately.

“Not only is it worrying that emergency vehicles are having trouble transporting patients from the beach, but it is also very disappointing to see beach goers being turned away by the traffic queue,” Mr Buswell said.

“Scarborough Beach Road is a local road, it is the responsibility of the City of Stirling to propose and fund modifications.

“The State Government will provide funding of up to $250,000 to the Council on the condition that the works to fix the congestion are completed before Summer 2012 - we do not want to see a repeat of the horrific traffic queues.”

Mrs Harvey said the Minister’s extraordinary step to pre-commit State Government funds meant there was now no excuse for the City of Stirling to delay improvements to this significant local traffic issue.

“I call on the City of Stirling to accept the Government funding and implement these road changes as soon as practical.”