Key Western Sydney infrastructure projects will be canned, all because of the NSW Liberals’ mismanagement of infrastructure delivery, according to the government’s latest infrastructure report.  
 
The NSW Liberal Government’s State Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2042 flags a number of key Western Sydney projects will be cancelled, as the region experiences a surge in population while continuing to endure lower access to transport infrastructure.
 
Over the next 20 years Western Sydney will grow by 1.36 million people, from 2.8 to 4.1 million people. That is a 49 per cent increase, and a 63 per cent or two thirds proportion of NSW’s total growth over that time.
 
Meanwhile, all eight of Western Sydney’s local government areas (LGAs) are in the third of Sydney’s LGAs with the least access to public transport, according to the McKell Institute report titled ‘Funding the Infrastructure of Tomorrow’.
 
The report also notes that the government is running out of money from its past privatisations, and suggests further privatisation of the taxpayers’ transport assets to make up for the shortfall.
 
A road user charge and public transport fare hike have also been foreshadowed by the report, the second such government report to do so.
 
Comment from Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
 
“The Government went to the last election – saying you can have it all, and no privatisation.
 
“The government has wasted over $25 billion and counting in cost blowouts on major projects – many in Sydney’s east and north. Now that the money has run dry, Western Sydney residents are again the ones who miss out.”
 
Comment from John Graham, NSW Shadow Minister for Roads:
 
“This government has over-promised, now they are set to under-deliver.
 
“Outer suburban communities will pay the cost. The money has run out before these transport promises have been delivered.”
 
Comment from Jo Haylen, NSW Shadow Minister for Transport:
 
“They now find themselves in a situation where they have no other option but to cancel projects they promised communities, because they have run out of money from their privatisation agenda.”