Albanese government accused of stalling crucial Western Sydney road funding in flood-prone areas

Community leaders say Western Sydney has been abandoned by the Albanese government with the region put at “significant risk” as they grapple with one of the most dangerous flood plains in the state.

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Money for crucially needed roads to protect Western Sydney’s flood-prone communities is yet to be handed by the Albanese government despite being promised two years ago.

The $33m package is aimed at widening road shoulders, improving drainage and bridge structures and raising low lying roads across Penrith, Richmond, Castlereagh and Blacktown.

Crucially needed flood evacuation routes across The Northern Road, Londonderry Road, Llandilo Road and Castlereagh Road are due to be broadened out but timeline blowouts show that upgrades, close to booming Western Sydney housing developments, will not be completed until 2030.

Frustrated mayors and locals said their communities have been let down after the funding committed by the former state and federal governments in 2022, and then recommitted by the Albanese government will only this year begin to be rolled out.

Windsor resident Ian Burns said he felt “helpless” given the government’s slow timeline and the constant fear of floods.

“It feels like nothing has changed at all … We feel helpless,” he said.

“When there is a natural disaster, the politicians roll out here to have a photo opportunity and promise this and promise that and within a couple of weeks it’s forgotten about.

“You feel so let down, people need assistance now, not four or five years down the track.”

Hawkesbury Mayor Sarah McMahon, who was previously a Liberal candidate for the region, said the delays in funding puts her community “at significant risk”.

“When the governments changed, both federal and state, we saw everything end,” she said.

“The delay of that funding sees communities like ours who are at significant risk put further at risk. We need action on the ground now. We’ve just had our seventh flood in four years.

“We have no commitment to do anything. It’s just not good enough. We have been identified as one of the most dangerous flood plains in the state if not the country but we are being completely abandoned.”

Coalition Western Sydney spokesman Melissa McIntosh said the former Coalition government had included the federal share, $16.5m, in the 2022 budget with funds to start reaching the state government in the 2021-2022 financial year.

“They are taking us for fools. All the Albanese Labor Government is big promises that they ultimately break,” she said.

“Communities across the Hawkesbury, Penrith and Blacktown are highly stressed whenever large downpours occur. We need funding released immediately to get on with flood resilience works across Western Sydney.

Hawkesbury City Council Mayor Sarah McMahon.

Coalition Western Sydney spokesman Melissa McIntosh. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Western Sydney infrastructure is being put to the side by Catherine King and Labor. We’ve seen cuts to road projects surrounding the Airport and a slowing of funds for the Metro to the Airport.

“If Labor isn’t cutting projects, they’re delaying them, and it’s the people of Western Sydney who are suffering as a consequence.”

Ian Burns operates the Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler which was washed from its mooring at Windsor wharf during the March floods. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said he would support anything that prioritised flood prevention and improvement to evacuation routes.

“Anything we can do to prioritise evacuation is priority for Penrith Council,” he said.

Mr Carney said it was crucial that the upgrades made were resilient and would withstand future floods.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Local Government and Regional Development Catherine King. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the money was ready to go and would be invested once “planning activities progress”.

“This commitment is funding planning for more than 100 infrastructure improvements that will help people evacuate safely ahead of a flood,” she said.

“We are working with the NSW Government, which is currently undertaking concept design and environmental approvals for the project. A final business case is expected to be completed this year.

“The Albanese Government’s funding commitment is budgeted and ready to flow when required as these planning activities progress.”

Under the current timeline, construction would begin in 2026, a year later than the original timeline, and end in 2030.

The Telegraph reached out to Labor’s Western Sydney MP and asked them how they feel about money being held from the region’s roads upgrades.

All the inquiries were met with the same generic response from a government spokesman: “Under the Albanese Government spending for Western Sydney has gone up, and that’s a good thing.”

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