Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [1.50 p.m.]: I bring to the attention of the House the plight of several businesses in my electorate along The Entrance Road at Wamberal. Roadworks along The Entrance Road between Ocean View Drive and Tumbi Road began in 2006. I commend the Roads and Traffic Authority and the divisional engineer, Jim Peachman, for doing an excellent job in keeping the road open—it is a major road on the Central Coast—despite the extensive nature of the road widening, which will widen the road from two lanes to four lanes. Nonetheless, the road widening, which has been going on for some two years, has had a considerable impact on businesses along The Entrance Road. Two of these businesses are Jo Jo's Hair and Wigs, located at 708 The Entrance Road Wamberal, and Monsieurdame Beauty. Jo Jo's is owned and operated by Mr Joe Messina, and Michelle Sandri operates Monsieurdame Beauty.

Mr Messina has owned his business for the past 20 years. Apart from providing normal salon services, such as haircuts for local residents, Mr Messina also makes special wigs for cancer sufferers, who make up the bulk of his clientele. For the past 20 years Mr Messina has enjoyed the highs and lows of operating a small business, but over the past two years the roadworks have had a devastating effect on his business and his clients. He has provided me with his financial records, which show that his business takings have been literally cut in half. I will not divulge the exact amount of income and expenditure, but I can inform the House that not only has his income been cut in half but also he has had to accept the great loss of business caused by the roadworks, and his staff of three have lost their jobs. He is alone now in the operation of his business.

In my dealings with him, Mr Messina has shown himself to be a reasonable man who accepts that while upgrading a major road in front of his business would not be without its difficulties, it has caused him enormous business loss. Some of the points he makes to me are that trees were cut down in front of his premises using a crane, causing his driveway to be blocked, and the cessation of all business for that day. When excavation work was done on his property, a water main was burst leaving his premises without running water. Jo Jo's was forced to rinse the treatment used on its client's hair with buckets of water. Electricity to his premises was cut off on several occasions and, in some instances, all day. Access to his property was cut off when protective barriers for traffic flow were placed in front of it.

The accessibility for older clientele was cut off when parking on his premises was made impossible and the nearest parking was located more than 100 metres away. Signs that were promised to be erected showing clients where alternative parking was were either not put up or were not placed where they could be seen each time the parking changed. His clients were forced to walk through mud and incomplete pavement works when approaching the premises for their appointments. On many occasions his clients were late for appointments as they were delayed in traffic gridlock. Finally, a barrier has now been placed in the middle of the road so that cars cannot turn into the business from the other side of the road, and his business can only be accessed on foot by crossing the road. Of course, these problems always occur when there are major roadworks. The roadworks are of enormous importance to the public, but they cause enormous inconvenience to businesses. The other business that has been in contact with me is Monsieurdame Beauty. Michelle Sandri writes:

I started my business in 2006, 3 days per week as a home based business. I increased the days to 6 days per week in Jan 2007. Monsieurdame relocated to the site of Jo Jo's in October 2007.

All of these strategies were initiated in order to trade through these very challenging times over the past 21 months. It has proven to be evidential that the client's ability to access the business and tolerance ceases to exist.

For me on a personal level it has been a financial loss—

Ms Sandri has faxed to me her financial statements, which show that her business has also been cut in half, a 50 per cent reduction—

that has affected me and family on an emotional level as well. I am now in significant financial debt from the refurbishment, loss of current income, as well as any future projected income.

Mr Messina has lost his three employees. His business has massively declined. He now has growing pressure from his bank, as he is unable to service his bank loans. His business survival is in jeopardy. The community benefits from these roadworks, but I appeal to the Minister for Roads, to whom I shall write, to offer compensation to these sorely affected businesses.