Minns welcomes $1.9 billion cash injection for critical Western Sydney roads

Western Sydney will get a $1.9 billion cash injection to fund critical road upgrades and congestion-busting bus and train transport plans, many of them in and around the city’s new airport. Find out where the money will go.

Premier Chris Minns has welcomed a $1.9 billion cash injection for Western Sydney roads and public transport which was “desperately needed” to make the new airport a success.

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Monday that next week’s budget would include almost $2bn in congestion-busting funding, in a win for the Tele’s Let’s Get Moving campaign.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King on Monday announced 14 new projects and two existing works will receive funding in the federal budget next week.

The Telegraph’s Let’s Get Moving campaign has run since April 22, calling for action on roads spending from the Commonwealth.

Many of the road links in the new funding, such as $400m for “priority” sections of Elizabeth Dr, are crucial avenues for freight and traffic to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, where investment has stalled largely due to a go-slow on road funding.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King will on Monday announce $1.9bn for western Sydney road upgrades. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Minns said the money was “welcome”.

“We’ve criticised the federal government in the last few months in relation to infrastructure spending but you’ve got to give credit where it’s due,” he said.

“The money is desperately needed and we’re very grateful that the federal government has stood up and put money into Western Sydney.”

“That kind of billion dollar investment from the commonwealth government means that we can make western Sydney airport a success. Albo’s come to the party here so we’re very grateful,” he said.

Mamre Rd will get a $500m upgrade. Picture: Richard Dobson

The $1.9bn investment includes $115 million to build Mulgoa Road Stage 2 – an upgrade initially cut just six months ago.

Labor will also invest $500m on the Mamre Rd in Kemps Creek, $260m for the Richmond Rd upgrade between the M7 Motorway and Townson Rd, $220m for Garfield Road East, $123.3m for Memorial Ave Upgrade, $115m for Mulgoa Rd stage 2 upgrade, $100m for the Western Sydney Rapid Bus Infrastructure upgrade and $22.5m for Appin Rd to St Johns Rd upgrade.

Last year an independent Western Sydney Infrastructure Review Panel report designated the Elizabeth Dr upgrades as “high priority,” though that advice had been ignored by the government until now.

Traffic pictured on the corner of Devonshire Road and Elizabeth Drive near the suburb of Rossmore. Sections of Elizabeth Drive are getting upgraded. Picture: Damian Shaw

A further $147.5m has been committed for new planning projects including a final business case for the Western Sydney freight line, and planning for the Eastern Ring Rd and Badgerys Creek Rd South, while an extra $70m has been added to ongoing projects including the South West Sydney rail planning business case and works at Appin Rd near Gilead Works.

Ms King said Labor had focused on cleaning up the “mess” in the infrastructure pipeline, which now meant there was room to ensure current projects could be delivered and to plan for future projects.

“We are working for all Australians to deliver significant infrastructure that increases opportunities and connections, builds communities and improves safety,” she said.

Richmond Rd is also getting an upgrade.

The Infrastructure Review Panel last year also identified upgrades to Luddenham Road, Fifteenth Ave and Devonshire Road as a “high” priority, but these were left out of the new funding boost.

Labor ministers in western Sydney have welcomed the funding for their electorates, with Chifley MP Ed Husic describing the updates to Richmond Rd as “great for local jobs” as well as fixing a “traffic nightmare for residents”.

Blaxland MP Jason Clare said the funds would make it easier to get around Western Sydney, which he called “the best part of Australia and one of the biggest engine rooms of our economy”.

Greenway MP Michelle Rowland said the infrastructure projects would improve quality of life for “growth suburbs,” particularly in north west Sydney.

McMahon MP Chris Bowen said the Mamre Rd upgrade would ensure infrastructure in the area was “fit for purpose”.

Watson MP Tony Burke said everyone in his area had “lost many hours to traffic jams” on the roads now earmarked for upgrades.

“This sort of investment means more people have a chance of a bit of sunshine at the end of the day when they get home,” he said.

Garfield Road East is getting upgraded.

Meanwhile, the federal Opposition has labelled the funding announcement a “humiliating u-turn,” slamming the Albanese government for announcing new cash for projects it cut six months ago.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced $115 million would be spent upgrading Mulgoa Road – despite cutting federal funding for that project in November.

“Today’s re-funding announcement comes with around half the money cut. Where is the rest of the funding for this project?” Opposition Western Sydney spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh said.

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Originally published as Minns welcomes $1.9 billion cash injection for critical Western Sydney roads