Duncan Gay MLC

Minister for Roads and Ports Deputy Leader of the Government Legislative Council

MEDIA RELEASE Monday 16 December 2013

MAJOR NSW ROAD PROJECTS GET GREEN LIGHT UNDER LIBERALS & NATIONALS GOVERNMENTS

Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan Gay today welcomed almost $220 million from the Federal Coalition Government for four major NSW road projects the former Gillard Labor Government made empty promises about, but never funded.

Minister Gay said projects sabotaged by Julia Gillard and Anthony Albanese during their time in office with the dud mining tax now had the green light - the Bolivia Hill Upgrade of the New England near Tenterfield, climbing lanes at Mount Ousley on the M1 , the construction of a level crossing at Scone and the duplication at Newcastle Port ( Island).

"No matter the project, the NSW Government and Federal Coalition are working together to deliver for the people of NSW," Minister Gay said.

"This $220 million will ensure we can get these projects being jointly funded by the NSW Government delivered for the people of the Upper Hunter, Newcastle, the Illawarra and North West NSW.

"The people of Newcastle would well remember Anthony Albanese promise the duplication of the Tourle Street Bridge to try and win the Federal election, only to find out it was actually unfunded by Federal Labor.

"In this year's Budget the NSW Government committed an additional $3 million to continue planning and last month we were delighted to display the designs for public comment.

"Today the Federal Government has secured and budgeted $51.9 million for the Tourle Street duplication, which will be matched by the NSW Government dollar-for-dollar with 50 per cent by the Commonwealth and 50 per cent by the state .

"In the Illawarra, $42 million has been committed by the Federal Government for two new northbound and two new southbound climbing lanes on Mount Ousley Road between Bulli Tops and the Picton Road .

"This year the NSW Government committed $4 million to progress planning for the lanes and will contribute to construction on a 50/50 basis.

"In Scone on the New England Highway, $45 million from the Federal Coalition to build a level crossing long awaited by local communities will address congestion, improve road safety and reduce freight costs.

“Here the NSW Government will also contribute on a 50/50 basis.

"The Federal Government’s commitment of $80 million for the realignment of the three kilometre Bolivia Hill section of the New England Highway will help improve road safety, particularly for heavy vehicles.

“The NSW Government committed $1 million in this year’s budget and will contribute on an 80/20 funding basis.

Minister Gay said the Pacific Highway upgrade was back on track for a 2020 completion under the Liberals & Nationals Governments, with major sections at Buladelah and Kempsey opened this year and another major section completed today.

"Today Warren Truss and I will open the Woolgoolga bypass on the Pacific Highway, another major project where Tony Abbott and Mr Truss have provided the funding Federal Labor refused to give,” he said.

“Major work is now under way on five Pacific Highway sections: Tintenbar to Ewingsdale, Sapphire to Woolgoolga, Frederickton to Eungai, Nambucca Heads to Urunga, and Pimlico to Teven.

"Those communities who lost faith in government during years of Federal and State Labor, today have more evidence the Liberals and Nationals Coalitions are governments that deliver," Minister Gay said.

Media: Marie Scoutas 0467 739 976 or Scott MacKillop 0428 261 772