Media Release: Major progress on Western Sydney roads package

Motorists in Western Sydney are seeing results from the Australian and NSW Governments’ $3.6 billion investment in local roads with major milestones achieved over the past 12 months.

The latest 12-month report card for the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan (WSIP) shows steady progress on the plan’s major road infrastructure upgrades.

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher said a significant achievement was the opening to traffic of the new Werrington Arterial Road between the Great Western Highway and M4 Motorway, which is already helping to ease congestion on the M4.

“With one in 11 Australians now living in Western Sydney, we are delivering major projects such as building the M12 Motorway and the Werrington Arterial Road to transform the region’s economy and make it an even better place to live and do business,” Mr Fletcher said.

“The Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan is delivering major road upgrades for the region and capitalising on the economic benefits from building the Western Sydney Airport.

“These projects are delivering jobs for Western Sydney with around 910 full-time-equivalent positions created so far - almost a quarter of the forecast 4,000 direct and indirect jobs expected to be created over the 10-year program.

“The $3.6 billion plan will ensure that road connections are ready before the Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek opens and will support future housing development and economic precincts.”

New South Wales Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Western Sydney businesses were also reaping the rewards of record investment in the region’s infrastructure.

“As of 30 June 2017, around $108 million worth of contracts had been awarded to businesses based in Western Sydney from the projects that were under construction during the year,” Mr Ayres said.

“The peak annual expenditure of over $600 million for the 10-year program is forecast to occur in the 2019–20 financial year meaning Western Sydney businesses and residents will continue to benefit from these projects in the years to come.

“Additional projects under construction include two more stages of The Northern Road. The second stage of the Bringelly Road upgrade is also now under construction.

“The last of seven projects funded under Round 1 of the $200 million Local Roads Package opened in late 2016 and all 11 projects under Round 2 are either underway or in planning, boosting the capacity and efficiency of local roads.”

The Australian Government is investing around $2.9 billion and the New South Wales Government around $700 million in WSIP. Read the report card at http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-west/infrastructure-plan/index.html.