Home Property Australia Improving the last mile

Improving the last mile

  • September 10, 2014

Improving the last mile

NSW is set to receive a boost to upgrading pinch points with the recent introduction of the Commonwealth $2.1 billion Roads to Recovery scheme.

The federal Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014 permits funding for local roads and street work projects nominated by Councils.

Commuter congestion from Western Sydney to the CBD loses $5.1 billion in productivity annually – and without action – this will only increase.

 

The NSW Government has also dedicated an additional $43 million in this year’s budget to its $246 million pinch points program established in 2011.

Funding is allocated to upgrading local roads of strategic importance such as Old Wallgrove Rd, and improving bottlenecks that will ease connectivity to existing and new major arterial roads.

The Property Council has long advocated for a dedicated and strategic approach to improving the last mile.

Both governments identify Western Sydney as a central pillar to the NSW economy but lacking in road capacity.

Accelerating solutions to alleviate last mile pinch points is crucial to busting congestion.

Over the next four years via the pinch point and roads to recovery programs, Western Sydney will be the focus of investment in short-term last mile improvements.

The Property Council believes the programs set a sound precedent, and call for the establishment of an ongoing investment strategy with coordinated priorities from regional strategies, precinct master plans and major infrastructure projects.