More than $13 billion has been overspent on Government projects in NSW, meaning vital projects in the Macarthur region remain stalled.
NSW taxpayers have been left to foot the bill for the spending spree thanks to mismanagement, while residents in Campbelltown are left without the services and infrastructure they require, say local State Member, Greg Warren and Labor’s treasury spokesman Ryan Park.
They have slammed the Baird Government over project blowouts such as Westconnex, which is already over budget by $6.8 billion.
Mr Park and Mr Warren also point to the delivery of the new Intercity train fleet, which is costing $1.1 billion more than previously estimated. Embarrassingly, the blowout is necessary because the train carriages ordered by the Government are the wrong size for the station platforms.
Add to the list the CBD Light Rail which is currently $600 million over budget and the disastrous rollout of the software program LMBR which is in excess of $93 million over budget.
While the spree of overspending continues, the Government has failed to deliver on its key infrastructure commitments in the Campbelltown region, including the promised 450 additional parking spaces at Campbelltown railway station and building the Menangle-Spring Farm Link Road.
Local services are also suffering, with wait times for emergency treatment and elective surgery at Campbelltown Hospital on the rise and a $31 million backlog of maintenance at schools in the Macarthur region.
“While the costs of countless projects across the state continue to blowout, here in Campbelltown we are left without the infrastructure we need to cope with the massive urban growth and development we are experiencing,’’ says Mr Warren.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Whether it’s more parking at Campbelltown station, building the Menangle-Spring Farm Link Road, funding a rail overpass connecting Badgally Road and Broughton Street or fixing up Appin Road there’s no shortage of things the Baird Government could be better spending this money on.[/social_quote]
“In addition to all of our region’s infrastructure needs, the government should also be investing the money it’s wasted on budget blowouts in the essential services we need, like fixing the outstanding maintenance issues at our local schools and reducing wait times at Campbelltown Hospital.”
Mr Park said it was clear the government hadno plan to address the continuing blowouts, while residents in Campbelltown are left without the infrastructure and services they need.
“Once the Government is done selling off every public asset to fund its spending spree it will be NSW residents left to foot the bill,” he said.
