[Greens-Media] Public interest sold out by Cross City Tunnel deal

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE - 31 May 2006

Auditor-General shows public interest sold out by Cross City Tunnel deal 

Greens MP and roads spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said the Auditor General’s report into the tunnel highlights that the NSW Labor government bungled this private sector run project and failed to achieve its stated objectives of reducing traffic congestion, improving public transport and make central Sydney a more pleasant urban domain. 

“The Auditor General’s report underlines the Greens’ view that much needed major infrastructure projects should be publicly owned and funded. 

“This report shows that the RTA and Department of Planning did a slapdash job of assessing the impact of extensive road changes on the public. 

“The government failed to achieve the stated objectives for these road changes of reducing congestion and facilitating better public transport.

 “Where is the bright new world of public transport and improved pedestrian and bike facilities that the government promised the tunnel would help deliver to Central Sydney? The government needs to act now to bring it on and review road changes.

“The Auditor-General has rightly criticised the government for its failure to provide Sydneysiders with a toll-free, alternate route. But we ended up with an expensive facility designed to feed private sector profits.

“The Greens applaud the Auditor-General’s call for better community consultation that doesn’t end once a project opens. NSW Labor seems to have forgotten that the community, not the private sector, is the customer in these deals.

“The report criticises the secrecy surrounding the December 2004 amending deed. 

”The tunnel was a secret deal from start to finish, stitched up by a government set on conducting its negotiations behind closed doors. It was only through pressure from the Greens and the community that the light was turned on.

“Significant projects like the Cross City Tunnel have major ramifications for the community and should be open to thorough public scrutiny,” Ms Rhiannon said. 


For more information:  9230 3551 or 0427 861 568



Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Tues, Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au