Today the Environmental Impact Statement for Stage 3 of the WestConnex project has been released by the NSW Coalition Government.
 
The fact that the planning for the most important stage of the project has not been finalised, even though the project has been under construction for a number of years highlights the debacle that this failure to properly plan represents.
 
The so-called “final stage” of the project still does not go to either the Port of Botany or Sydney Airport.
 
Dealing with traffic from the Port was the original task identified by Infrastructure NSW for this project.
 
Even though planning is still underway, every single dollar of Federal grant funding from the Federal Coalition Government has already been forwarded to the NSW Coalition Government, which now plans to sell a majority stake in the project.
 
This week I asked the Speaker to write to the Minister for Urban Infrastructure to ascertain reasons why he has not complied with Standing Orders, which require answers to Questions on Notice to be provided within 60 days.
 
Minister Fletcher has failed to fulfil these requirements when it comes to questions I have asked related to the WestConnex project.
 
I encourage members of the local community to examine the proposed EIS and make submissions to www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au by 16 October 2017.

 

FRIDAY, 18 AUGUST 2017