O'FARRELL DELAYS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

Media Release | Thursday, 31 May 2012

O'FARRELL DELAYS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

EVEN WHEN THE PLAN IS ALREADY THERE, PREMIER STILL FAILS TO BUILD ANYTHING

The O'Farrell Government has delayed the construction of the Inner West Light Rail extension by one year – and held up hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in investment unnecessarily, the NSW Labor Opposition said today.

"Barry O'Farrell's decision to finally go ahead with the Inner West Light Rail has come one year too late," Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said.

"The Inner West Light Rail extension was scheduled to begin one year ago and be completed by the end of 2012. The planning work was done and ready to go.

"Instead of getting on with the job of building the infrastructure our State needs, the O'Farrell Government has delayed light rail for commuters and held off hiring hundreds of workers and subcontractors for an entire year. 

"There is nothing new in the Premier's announcement today – it is the same route, the same maps, even the planning documents on the NSW Planning website are the same.

"Commuters have every right to be questioning why it has taken Barry O'Farrell an entire year to decide to build what was already ready to go 12 months ago.

"Government sector debt has exploded by $1.9 billion since March 2011 – an increase of 30 percent, but the State's infrastructure spend is down $1.5 billion.

"This is exactly the kind of project Barry O'Farrell should have gotten on and built a year ago to help stimulate our economy – instead he sat by idly and did nothing.

"Barry O’Farrell has given NSW a mortgage, but he’s not building the house and that is hurting the State's economy."

Ms Sharpe said the failure to include the GreenWay in the extension plans showed the O'Farrell Government's contempt for the people of the Inner West.

"It doesn't make sense for the O'Farrell Government to go ahead with the light rail without the GreenWay. Both projects are inherently linked, with the GreenWay helping to maximise use of the light rail," Ms Sharpe said.

"This is a missed opportunity to deliver an integrated pedestrian, cycling and light rail project for the Inner West."