Appin Road got $4.5 million in today’s State Government Budget, while a new footy stadium in Parramatta will eat up $160.5 million or almost half of the entire state sport budget in the next 12 months.
The first Gladys Berejiklian Budget does allocate some money to infrastructure projects such as roads, schools and hospitals in South West Sydney, but it’s nowhere near enough for our booming region.
With another whopping budget surplus of $2.7 billion being forecast, these are some of the money allocated to local projects:
• $26.9 million to widen Narellan Road to six lanes from Camden Valley Way to Denham Court Road;
• $17.5 million towards the stage one upgrade of Campbelltown Road from Camden Valley Way to Denham Court Road;
• $4.5 million to widen Appin Road with intersection upgrades at Menangle Park;
• $5 million in 2017-18 to commence the $632 million Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment (including the Mental Health and South West Paediatric services);
• the Government has approved a new fire station at Oran Park at an estimated cost of $4.9 million, but construction is scheduled to start in 2018-19
• works are continuing on new schools at Hurlstone Agricultural High School and Narellan;
• upgrades are progressing at Bardia Public School, Campbell House School, selective high school at Glenfield and Oran Park Public School.
The government budget statement says it is also working with the Commonwealth Government to fund the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, which includes scoping work on a rail connection to the Western Sydney Airport.
It says a total of $648 million of the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan will be spent in 2017-18 including:
• $485.2 million towards works on the Northern Road;
• $99.3 million in 2017-18 to upgrade Bringelly Road.
In its vision statement as part of today’s budget, the government is effusive in talking about the need to invest big in western Sydney:
“Western Sydney is a rapidly growing employment and residential centre with vibrant multicultural communities.
“It is rich in indigenous, colonial and migrant heritage, and is close to green spaces and national parks.
“Over a quarter of the NSW population lives in Western Sydney and it continues to grow at a faster pace than the rest of the State.
“Employment is also growing at a faster rate than the State as a whole, and Western Sydney accounts for almost half of total housing approvals.
“Job opportunities will continue to grow with the construction and completion of the Western Sydney Airport.
“That is why the government is continuing to invest in hospitals, schools, roads, public transport, sporting facilities and green spaces; to address the needs of Western Sydney residents and help support a productive and thriving community.’’
It is not a statement that is going to have critics or the NSW Labor opposition nodding in agreement.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey in announcing an $8.5 billion allocation in the budget, said: “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.
“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.’’
Just $4.5 million allocated to Appin Road, which has claimed almost 50 lives in recent years, is not going to make it much safer.
State Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong, said the 2017 NSW Budget delivered next to nothing for his electorate.
“Despite the rivers of gold in stamp duty, this government still refuses to fund a lift at Macquarie Fields Station or provide additional commuter carparking,” he said.
“This is the same government that won’t back down on the sale of Hurlstone Agricultural High School to developers and won’t reinstate our motor registries.
“The same Government that sells everything in its path and makes you pay more along the way.
“Yet again, this government has picked winners and losers. Not surprising, those in Coalition seats are the winners and we stand to lose.
“Our needs have been completely ignored by a Budget that is all smoke and mirrors.
“Where’s our fair share?
“Bring on the 2019 election,” he said.
It is the same in the Labor voting Hunter area. The Liberals are only spending real money in electorates where it is important to regain voter support after losing their votes by the forced merger of councils and the debacle of the WestConnex lemon project before the 2019 election
What a joke sports is more important the human and wild life
It’s about the Jarryd Hayne sports stadium that’s going to be built in Airds. Appin Rd dual carriageways are a lot more important I’d say.
NO ROAD FUNDING, NO DEVELOPMENT, SIMPLE !!! At least there should not be thousands of extra cars adding to our already polluted air. And, yes, our air is already ozone saturated and more petrol and diesel fumes from vehicles could make it really toxic. Cambelltown council and the state Government know all this because of air Studies done since the 1990s, including the one commissioned by Campbelltown Council, to stop the Leafs Gully power plant. Anyone interested, read the “Peer Review of Air Quality Assessment”, by Atmospheric Solutions, 20th April 2009, it is Available from Campbelltown Council.