The New South Wales Government has announced the 2017-18 State Budget, committing $72.7 billion to infrastructure projects over the next four years.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, announced $8.5 billion to continue building and improving road, maritime and freight infrastructure, tackling congestion and reducing travel times, boosting freight productivity, and making NSW roads and waterways safer.
“We’re tackling congestion in the city, building and upgrading roads in regional areas, and providing the critical freight infrastructure improvements the bush needs to support its growing businesses and communities,” Ms Pavey said.
“This Budget is also focused on making our roads safer, whether they are in Bourke or Bankstown, Cooma or Camden – the lives of road users matter everywhere and that’s why we’re sharing the safety spend across the state.
“Tackling congestion is a focus of this Budget, with current estimates showing that traffic congestion costs us $6.1 billion a year.
“As Sydney’s population continues to grow, so will demands on our roads. The congestion busting and road building investment in this budget means people will spend more time with their families and less time in traffic jams.”
This Government has committed $72.7 billion over the next four years to infrastructure investments.
Highlights from the infrastructure budget include:
- $7.2 billion in Government investment for the third stage of WestConnex, including the M4-M5 link
- $4.9 billion for Sydney Metro City and South West
- $3.5 billion for the Pacific Highway upgrade
- $4 billion Sydney Metro Northwest
The State Government is also making significant investments in local roads, including:
- $648 million in 2017-18 of NSW and Commonwealth Government funded road upgrades to support Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek
- $548.5 million since the 2016-17 Budget for the Regional Road Freight Corridor program to create safer, more efficient road freight corridors
- $264 million to reduce congestion on Sydney roads by addressing critical pinch points,and commencing the implementation of the Smart Motorways program on the M4 Motorway
