Federal Budget 2020: Coffs Harbour Bypass gets $491m federal funding investment
The Federal Government will tilt a whopping $491m into the long-awaited Coffs Harbour bypass, securing the last outstanding major upgrade for the Pacific Hwy on the Mid North Coast.
Mid-North Coast
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The long-awaited Coffs Harbour Bypass will get almost $500m in Federal Government funding to drag the outstanding works over the line for the local community.
The Coffs Harbour Bypass will get a $490.6m cash injection in the Federal Budget, ensuring the last major section of the Pacific Highway upgrade will be completed at last.
The Coffs Coast Advocate previously reported on a successful community campaign for tunnels instead of large open cuttings in the concept design.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said rebuilding the country’s economy post-COVID meant building more roads, rail and bridges.
“This Budget, we will expand our record 10-year infrastructure pipeline which is already supporting 100,000 jobs on worksites across the country today,” he said.
“Together with what we have announced since the start of the crisis, measures in this Budget will see $14 billion in new and accelerated infrastructure projects support a further 40,000 jobs.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison previously said shovel-ready projects such as the Coffs Harbour Bypass would create more than 8000 jobs across NSW and kickstart NSW’s beleaguered economy on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic,
“We have been working closely with state and territory governments to invest in the infrastructure that is ready to go and can help rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” he said.
“These projects will keep commuters safe on the road, get people home to their loved ones sooner and provide better transport links for urban and regional communities.”
Mr Morrison said the government’s investment in infrastructure in NSW totalled $5bn since the pandemic.
“This latest investment will provide another boost to the local economy and is part of our plan to support an estimated 8000 direct and indirect jobs across the state,” he said.
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