EDDIE WILLIAMS [HOST]: Nearly $3 million will go towards trying to make the drive to and from South East Regional Hospital safer. This is through a federal government program. The Member for Eden-Monaro and Minister for Regional Development and Local Government is Kristy McBain, good morning.

MCBAIN [MINISTER]:Good morning.

WILLIAMS: Where will this funding go?

MCBAIN: So our Safer Local Roads Infrastructure Program delivers funding across the country for various roads that councils have prioritised, and this one is around the Tathra Road and Boundary Road. We know there's some work happening there at the moment, so this will complement those works by making sure that road pavement is safer, that we can extend that path into the hospital. We know it's getting busier and busier, the hospital, as more and more of that hospital is utilised, so making sure that that intersection is an easier one to navigate is a real priority.

WILLIAMS: Does it pave the way as well for future housing developments, more residents in that area?

MCBAIN: I think council's done some planning work on where potential additional housing sites may be located in Bega, and obviously it's up to land owners and council to work together on where additional housing might be placed across Bega.

WILLIAMS: Is that one of the reasons, you know, it's not a region that necessarily has paths everywhere, is that one of the reasons for a shared path in that area - better able to link, you know, housing with the hospital?

MCBAIN: I think it's critical. We know from a whole bunch of road safety data, it's important to have paths, and unfortunately, we've seen tragedies in our region where pathways are really required. So, this is about extending that path network, particularly into the hospital site. And we know more and more people are utilising the pathways, including that housing development that's taking place right next to the hospital now. So critically important, I think, that council looks at ways they can extend our walking path network.

WILLIAMS: When do you hope to see this work underway?

MCBAIN: Really soon. I understand that work is already happening on a range of different things there. So this will be able to complement those works and make sure that we've got some additional road treatments as well. So that's really great.

WILLIAMS: Been hearing in the news today that a senate inquiry will hold hearings into Australian aviation in Canberra today and look at services into the regions. There's been news this week that Rex is cutting flights to Orange and Port Macquarie. How confident are you that Merimbula and Moruya will be able to retain their Rex flights?

MCBAIN: Regional aviation is critical for getting our customers, I guess, into the major cities for medical appointments, for travel, for family visits, and the like. It's also critical in getting professionals and specialists out into our regions. So, it's one of the reasons that our government backed Rex during its administration, so that we could continue to make sure that regional communities had access to aviation. But now the new owners, AirT, obviously have to make some decisions to keep the airline viable. We've been on their hammer, making sure that regional aviation continues across the country. I think anyone who has utilised our Merimbula to Sydney flights will know it's pretty full most of the time. So it is an area I think that will continue to have those Rex flights.

WILLIAMS: Is Merimbula to Melbourne as viable?

MCBAIN: That's obviously a decision for Rex. I've used that service, and again, I think the service is pretty well utilised. I don't see a lot of empty seats when I'm traveling, so I know there are a lot of people that are using the service.

WILLIAMS: 21 to nine on ABC South East. You're hearing from the Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain. You teamed up with Independent MP Helen Haines this week to launch the Parliamentary Friends of Snow Sports and the Alpine Economy. A tough winter in terms of snow, what do you see as the future of snow sports and the alpine economy?

MCBAIN: Really critical. I attended the Snow Summit in May this year, which was held in Thredbo, where all the snow resorts attended, but also a range of other industry partners. It's critical that the industry is looking at how they can make sure they've still got viable offerings in the face of what is a changing climate. Obviously, this winter proved that we need to make sure those offerings are as good as they can be. And we heard directly from Thredbo and Perisher GMs in Canberra this week that their snowmaking machines were doing really well, and it allowed them to extend out their season a little bit. But it's really important at a national level that we recognize the nearly $5 billion across the economy that the snow season pumps into our particular regions. And there are a range of communities that rely on that passing traffic as well. So obviously Jindabyne, Mansfield, Bright, Cooma, Berridale; all of these towns rely on that. So Helen Haines and I teamed up to make sure that there was a parliamentary friendship group that allowed these ideas to be highlighted in Parliament. It's the first time at a national level that this has taken place. So we're really proud to bring that to Parliament, and really proud that some of our amazing Winter Olympic athletes were there as well, including our own Cooper Woods. So, really highlighting how important it is not only to professional athletes but to the economy as a whole.

WILLIAMS: And you had some special visitors from Tathra in Parliament House this week. How was that?

MCBAIN: Yeah, absolutely. Grade four from Tathra Public School were up on their school camp. It's always great to welcome local schools into Parliament House in busy sitting weeks. So, I got to catch up with those guys. They had some really great questions, and it was the first stop on their primary school camp. So really great to see them.

WILLIAMS: Was there a question that stood out?

MCBAIN: Well, I always get lots of, "Do you know who my parents are? Did you know them?” Well, one kid that asked me, I said, "actually, my husband's best friends with your dad,” and that's I guess the point in growing up in small communities is you do know a lot of people. But they ask some really interesting questions, like, “how often are you in Canberra? Do you know who the Prime Minister is?” “What does is meant when the bells go?” It's always great welcoming school kids to Canberra.