Labor Puts Vital Local Road and Transport Infrastructure Projects Under Review

The Federal Member for Lindsay, Melissa McIntosh MP, has deep concerns over significant congestion-busting road projects in Lindsay being put at risk by the Albanese Labor Government’s 90-day infrastructure review.

Currently, with $232.5 million Commonwealth funding earmarked, the Mulgoa Road upgrade is designed to bust congestion by widening carriageways from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between Glenmore Parkway to Jeanette Street, Blaikie Road to Jamison Road, and Jamison Road to Union Road. The project will also provide active transport facilities.

Also under review is the Werrington Arterial Stage 2 project, with $3 million in Commonwealth funding allocated to design a new link between Werrington Arterial Road and Great Western Highway, from Werrington to Marsden Park. 

Additionally, funding for needed Western Sydney International Airport infrastructure may be cut altogether, including the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport Line, the Western City Road Transport Network Development (including upgrades to Luddenham Road), and the Western Sydney Freight Line. 

“The Albanese Labor Government is demonstrating it doesn’t have a plan for sustainable growth in Western Sydney, by threatening to cut these critical infrastructure projects Labor promised to keep in the October 2022 Budget,” said Mrs McIntosh.

“I have already expressed my concerns around the Albanese Labor Government’s broken commitment to fast-track the upgrade of Dunheved Road - a project that is now at least 12 months behind the original scheduled start date.  

“This 90-day review is a way for the Labor Government to disguise their infrastructure funding shortfalls, inability to address inflation in the Budget, and to protect their own 23 election commitment projects exempted from review.

“Several key local projects may get axed, including commuter car parks at Kingswood and St Marys, despite Penrith City Council already having contributed funding towards the projects.

“Also on the chopping block are the four important upgrades along Coreen Avenue in Penrith which are needed for our north Penrith, Thornton, Kingswood and Cambridge Park communities. 

“We know that future-proofing projects being planned, such as Stage 2 of Werrington Arterial Road, will be most at risk under Labor’s review, with locals missing out on improved access to employment areas in the north-west.

“Between 2013 and 2022, the Coalition committed over $48.5 billion towards infrastructure projects in NSW, as part of a $120 billion 10 year infrastructure investment pipeline to develop and improve worthy land transport projects. 

“The previous Coalition government backed in these local projects and understood the value of improving Western Sydney road and transport infrastructure to unlock our region.

“I support these vital road and transport projects as they will further the economic transformation that the new Western Sydney International Airport will provide for our Lindsay community surrounding Penrith.

“I am calling on the Albanese Labor Government to honour their commitments they made to our Lindsay community, who will be rightly disappointed if these projects get cut by the 90-day infrastructure review.”