Infrastructure Reform Agenda – First Year Report Card
This month, the Baird Government marked a year in office since the March 2015 election.
Across the infrastructure sector it has been a year of significant progress. Legislation was passed early on in the Government’s first year to allow the 99-year lease of the state’s poles and wires supplying $10 billion in gross proceeds towards the largest infrastructure reform agenda that NSW has seen.
In the first year, we have seen tunnelling for the Sydney Metro Northwest complete. This covers off the first stage of the plan and a massive 36 kilometre metro line including 8 new railways and twin 15 kilometre tunnels between Bella Vista and Epping.
In the CBD, a route has been confirmed for the Sydney Metro City and Metro Southwest. Major construction commenced in October 2015 and the metro line is due for completion by mid-2018.
More broadly, in public transport, planning or construction has commenced for upgrades at 31 train stations.
Planning is inching forward in terms of development of Western Sydney Airport: a second commercial airport in Sydney to be located in Badgerys Creek.
The airport plan and the EIS (environmental impact statement) were delivered at the end of 2015 and included a transport corridor to be constructed before the airport would commence operations.
The government is working through the options to determine the best course of action for both the near-term and long-term transport options for the airport. There is potential to build suburban and fast rail with no firm budgetary or policy commitments to either in principle.
The $3 billion NorthConnex motorway will be the next major infrastructure project in NSW where major construction gets underway.