Andrew Stoner’s Press Release
Thursday 15 April 2010
STATE LABOR’S GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BLOWOUT TO COST $1.5 BILLION
Leader of the Nationals and Shadow Minister for Roads Andrew Stoner today slammed the Keneally Labor Government for waste and incompetence, following revelations the cost of the upgrade of the Great Western Highway had blown out by as much as $1.5 billion.
Documents obtained by the Liberals & Nationals under Freedom of Information show the State Labor Government has estimated the project could cost between $1.7 and $1.9 billion, depending on which option is chosen.
When the project was first announced in 2007, the State Labor Government estimated the total cost of the project would be $450 million.
Mr Stoner said State Labor’s waste and mismanagement had seen the project blowout in cost by as much as $1.5 billion.
“Taxpayers will be the ones footing the $1.5 billion bill for Kristina Keneally and State Labor’s incompetence,” Mr Stoner said.
“Whether it’s the BER, the failed CBD Metro or the Mt Victoria Bypass, Kristina Keneally and State Labor have shown they can’t manage major infrastructure projects.
“Local residents in the Blue Mountains will be scratching their heads over how this project could blowout to four-times the original cost in the space of three years.
“This just shows that nothing has changed under Kristina Keneally – it’s just the same old State Labor incompetence.
“Unlike Labor, the NSW Liberals & Nationals have positive plans to deliver the change NSW needs.
“We will create Infrastructure NSW, an independent body that will take the politics out of infrastructure decisions and ensure projects are delivered on-time and on-cost.
“Infrastructure NSW will improve co-ordination, accountability and transparency in infrastructure delivery and guarantee the community will get the improvements they deserve.”
MEDIA: Andrew Stoner 0427 164 092 / Ben Shine 0431 096 596
