Engines were revved and pistons were firing at the start of the week when Premier Mike Baird announced his plan to take the $20 billion sale of the state’s electricity poles and wires to next year’s election.
But, as he meandered down the coast to the Illawarra on Wednesday morning, his election centrepiece got a little lost in a slightly unusual itinerary.
His first visit to the region since he took on NSW’s top job began with, of all things, go-kart racing in Albion Park Rail.
Mr Baird was in town at the behest of Kiama MP Gareth Ward, who had invited him to officially open Australia’s first electric indoor go-kart racing centre.
And even though he was advised not to get behind the wheel – lest he crash and provide all-too convenient headline fodder, perhaps? – Mr Baird proved himself a can-do man.
‘‘I was told I can’t do it, but bugger that,’’ he said, as he pulled on his helmet and gloves.
Buckling up on go-kart Number 1, emblazoned with his name, he was first out of the blocks and handled himself surprisingly well on the track.
Defending his slightly off-beat engagement later, Mr Baird acknowledged that even his wife would wonder what had possessed him to climb behind the wheel of a go-kart.
But he said the new Albion Park track – run by Steve and Dee-Ann Caunt – would offer jobs to help reduce youth unemployment in the area.
‘‘I’m here to celebrate a vision, where a couple came together with a vision to provide a business that provided support for 60 jobs in this region,’’ Mr Baird said.
‘‘That’s worth celebrating.’’
As the Premier’s convoy travelled further south to Gerringong, it seemed the election message was back on track: surely we would be hearing of the government’s record investment in the region’s roads, discussing budget commitments or even new information on the Princes Highway upgrade.
But alas, all the Premier had to declare was an announcement that had already been made in March: that Fulton Hogan would build the Foxground to Berry bypass.
And to further muddy the waters, his press release contained information Mr Baird may have preferred not to highlight: the bypass’s construction costs had blown out by $70 million to $580 million, instead of the previously estimated $510 million.
Neither Mr Baird’s office nor Roads and Maritime Services were able to offer an explanation for the cost increase by the Mercury’s print deadline; the RMS have since responded.
Finally getting in a few words of his election pitch at the end of the tour, Mr Baird said the Illawarra had a ‘‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’’ to benefit from the sale of electrical poles and wires.
‘‘There is a huge opportunity for this region to play a role and there’ll be many announcements to come,’’ he said.
And with that, he got back in his car and returned to Sydney.
Until next time, Mr Premier.