The NSW Opposition has called out an appalling broken promise in the Minns Government's first budget which reveals at minimum a $300m gap in the funding provided to deliver vital road upgrades to North-West Sydney.
In the 2023/24 Budget, the Minns Government committed $200m over two years for the Western Sydney Flood Resilience program[1].
However in examining the projects, the Opposition can reveal the Government has only provided 40% of the total cost to deliver these works.
Project |
Labor Funding |
Pre-election Cost |
Richmond Road Upgrade – M7 to Townson Road |
$200m over two years |
$285m |
Pitt Town Bypass |
$100m [2] |
|
Garfield Road East Upgrade |
$100m |
|
Upgrade the intersection of The Driftway and Londonderry Road |
$15m |
|
Total funding |
$200m |
$500m |
Shortfall |
- $300m |
|
These projects were funded for delivery by the Coalition Government prior to the election through the WestInvest Fund, which required projects to have a finalised business case. During the election campaign the Labor Opposition matched the funding for the majority of these projects[3].
Shadow Minister for Roads Natalie Ward commented on the broken promise "Cutting funding to flood resilience infrastructure is a disgrace, they promised the projects before the election and now they can't deliver it."
"The Government needs to explain how it intends on delivering four projects inside two years with 40% of the funding – it doesn't add up, just like Labor's budget."
Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston commented "This Labor Government shouldn't give false hope by announcing vital infrastructure projects without adequate funding."
