The prime minister has announced additional funding for western Sydney’s infrastructure projects in the upcoming budget.
In an opinion piece written for The Daily Telegraph, Anthony Albanese said the budget would include $1.9 billion spread across 16 infrastructure projects — 14 new, and two ongoing.
The projects include Appin Road, Spring Farm Parkway and bus infrastructure for the future Western Sydney Airport.
“These investments are about making sure western Sydney gets its fair share of infrastructure as it grows,” he said.
“We know right now that the traffic is slowing people down. That’s why we want to get western Sydney moving again.
“Our new investments include construction projects, as well as planning projects, to ensure we lay the groundwork for a pipeline of future road investments, which are properly scoped, designed and costed.”
This is a full circle moment for the prime minister, who, as Australia’s first dedicated infrastructure minister, initiated the first comprehensive infrastructure plan for greater western Sydney.
Since taking office, the government has committed about $17.3 billion to infrastructure projects in western Sydney — primarily parts of the western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, and the Western Sydney Airport’s transport plan. Public Service departments will be direct beneficiaries of this, as they respond to the call to go west.
Infrastructure investment is controversial in the current economic climate, with some economists warning of inflationary impacts stemming from big infrastructure spend. At the same time, people in western Sydney have struggled to get governments to pay attention to their concerns for decades. Sometimes frustrations boil over when communities are feeling particularly targeted or ignored — like now.
While there are questions about whether the time to build is now — particularly in light of the question mark over the NSW government’s 800 projects to-build list — there is little doubt the rapidly growing area needs more and better transport offerings.
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said today’s announcement was a game changer.
“It builds on hundreds of millions of dollars invested by NSW to deliver overdue precinct roads that will meet the existing needs of local residents, while unlocking development and new places for people to work and live,” she said.
“We have developers ready to transform the region into modern employment, education and housing zones which are planned to attract 250,000 people.
“Today’s announcement will give investors the confidence they are looking for from government to begin making those plans a reality.”
READ MORE:
