The New South Wales Government is continuing its ‘historic’ investment to build new and improved roads, boat ramps, wharves and freight rail lines following this week’s Budget announcement, according to a statement from Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay.
The State Government has committed a record $9.7 billion in the 2016-17 State Budget for roads, maritime and freight.
“When we came to office in 2011, NSW was a failed state. In terms of building and repairing critical transport and road infrastructure Labor had thrown in the towel,” said Mr. Gay.
“Today’s announcement brings the overall funding commitment in this portfolio to $9.7 billion – dwarfing Labor’s last budget in 2010-11 by 107 per cent,” he said.
“Wherever you look across the state we are Rebuilding NSW to provide the critical transport and freight infrastructure our communities and businesses need and deserve.”
The Budget also committed a massive $6.2 billion towards Sydney Metro City & Southwest and $5.8 billion for Sydney Metro Northwest projects over the next 4 years, with both stages now fully funded.
This announcement follows the completion of the tunnels for Sydney Metro Northwest, which came within budget and 10 months early. They are now ready for railway tracks to be installed and the new metro stations built.
Other budget highlights include:
- More than $2.1 billion to continue fast tracking major upgrades of key regional highways such as the Pacific, Princes, Central Coast, Great Western, Newell, New England, Oxley, Mitchell, Kings, Riverina, Silver City, Cobb and Bells Line of Road.
- $2.9 billion to continue widening and upgrading the M4, building a New M5 and getting the M4-M5 Link ‘shovel ready’ for construction (all part of the WestConnex project), and wider road integration works across the network $283 million to continue major construction of NorthConnex.
- $338 million to continue building and upgrading roads to support Sydney’s second airport at Badgerys Creek (including The Northern Road, Bringelly Road and Werrington Arterial Road).
- $147 million to continue building and upgrading roads which help service population growth areas in Western Sydney (including Schofields, Narellan, Richmond and Old Wallgrove roads).
- $125 million towards easing Sydney’s congestion (including fixing notorious traffic pinch points).
- $242 million to upgrade and maintain regional freight rail lines.
- $111 million to support productivity and safety for road freight in regional NSW including the Bridges for the Bush program, road freight upgrades and heavy-duty pavements.