RMS walks away from Woy Woy level crossing project as costs triple

PLANS to build a $115 million rail underpass at Woy Woy have been abandoned after a cost blowout and design dispute between government departments.

The promised Woy Woy level crossing replacement project is a dead duck after RMS abandons the project.

PLANS to build a $115 million rail underpass at Woy Woy have been abandoned after a cost blowout and design dispute between government departments.

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has pulled funding for the project that would have seen a new underpass at the base of Bulls Hill in order to eliminate the level crossing at Rawson Rd.

First announced during the 2011 election campaign by former Gosford state Liberal MP Chris Holstein, the project cost escalated from $30 million, to $52 million and then to $115 million.

Former Gosford state Liberal MP Chris Holstein, Roads Minister Duncan Gay and the former Gosford Mayor Lawrie McKinna at the opening of the Rawson Rd Pedestrian underpass at Woy Woy

Peninsula Chamber president Matthew Wales at the existing Woy Woy underpass which was recently closed for months after being hit by a truck. Mr Wales claims the peninsula has been sold a “dead duck”.

About $16 million has already been spent on the project including a $6 million pedestrian underpass at Rawson Rd and $10 million in design and earthworks at the base of Bulls Hill.

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Matthew Wales said he understood the problems stemmed from disagreements between the RMS and Sydney Trains over the design and construction of the road culvert under the main northern rail line.

“It’s a dead duck, it’s a disgrace,” Mr Wales told the Express Advocate.

“It’s a promise that should never have been made, it was never going to work, we ended up with a dog and no solution to the problem.

“The cost had blown out to $115 million and we understand the risk factors around the construction were insurmountable­.

“Everyone at the time questioned the costings and here we are five years later with a $6 million underpass that no one uses and $10 million on earthworks and we’ve still got a congested rail crossing at Rawson Rd, an inadequate underpass at Shoalhaven Drive and a traffic bottleneck at the Ocean Beach Rd and Rawson Rd roundabout.

The existing Woy Woy underpass is set to remain as the government walks away from new underpass project.

“The chamber is bitterly disappointed at the failure of this project which once again has left the peninsula in the lurch at a time when our local roads are in desperate need of funds for kerb and gutter, repairs and upgrading­.”

An RMS spokesman said the former Gosford Council was advised last year that no further NSW Government funding would be available for the project.

“In 2011, the NSW Government committed $45 million to upgrade the Rawson Rd level crossing with an extra $7 million committed last year,” the spokesman said.

“This extra money was committed at the official opening of the new $11 million pedestrian underpass — a project fully funded by the NSW Government.

“All original cost estimates to improve this level crossing were provided by the former Gosford City Council.

“The project cost has escalated from $52 million to between $80 million and $115 million.”

Roads minister confirms project is scuttled

Minister for Roads Duncan Gay. Picture: John Fotiadis

Wyong state Labor MP and Central Coast Opposition spokesman David Harris.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay confirmed the government had scuttled the Woy Woy underpass project after being grilled in Parliament on Wednesday by the Opposition.

The government was also accused of failing to notify the office of the sitting Labor MP for Gosford, Kathy Smith, despite the fact that letters had been written several times on this matter including correspondence as recently as October 4.

Both Opposition spokesman for the Central Coast David Harris and Ms Smith condemned the Government’s decision.

“This project has been such a long time coming that people have been talking about it since I was a kid living in Woy Woy,” Mr Harris said.

“The government should have done it’s research, the people of the peninsula shouldn’t have to suffer a $50 million unfinished disaster because the Liberals couldn’t count.

“They made a promise to residents, they will rightfully be punished at the ballot box for this.”

Gosford state Labor MP Kathy Smith said she was appalled by the government’s decision.

Ms Smith said she had been pushing for answers since early this year and was “appalled” that the government has walked away from the project.

“This is yet another example of the peninsula being let down by this Liberal government and it is time the government fronted up and delivered this absolutely vital project,” she said.

“Since my election as Member for Gosford, my office has been inundated with inquiries regarding this project, residents of the peninsula deserve answers.

“This project has been in limbo for far too long this latest development is nothing short of a betrayal from the government to the people of the peninsula.”’

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