Infrastructure NSW (iNSW) recently released their recommended 20 year infrastructure strategy for NSW. The strategy details approximately 70 projects and reforms of existing infrastructure. The 20 year strategy includes investing in over $7.5 billion in rail and $2 billion on an underground Sydney CBD bus rapid transit system.
Projects nominated in the NSW plan include a 33 kilometre extension of the M4 to Sydney Airport, another M5 East tunnel and a motorway connection between the F3 and M2 motorways in northern Sydney to be built within the next five years.
The combined M4 and M5 extensions, dubbed WestConnex, are said to cost $10 billion, with just $2.5 billion in government funding.
The plan also proposes pushing buses underground in Sydney's CBD to clear road space.
Other key recommendations include new dams, better town water and road bypasses in mining communities.
The report also proposes the government consider public private partnerships, including so-called “availability PPPs” where the risk is carried by the taxpayer, not the private sector.
The iNSW report moves away from a separate master plan released last month by Transport for NSW. The iNSW report is meant to be based on independent advice, which the NSW Government may or may not accept.
The Strategy’s recommendations have been provided to the NSW Government for its consideration in developing plans for infrastructure investment.
It now remains a decision of the O’Farrell government on how they will weigh the differences of the two reports.
MBA members can obtain a copy of the First things First NSW infrastructure report, by contacting our Infrastructure Manager, Michelle Bass, on 8586 3579 or email mbass@mbansw.asn.au