[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: 'WestConnex Planning Chaos Continues as Baird Begs Abbott for a Bail Out' (Greens NSW MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Matthew Hilton]

Media Release
1.12.14
WestConnex Planning Chaos Continues as Baird Begs Abbott for a Bail Out
Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC,  has called the latest announcement of yet another major route re-alignment of the WestConnex project another example of the moving feast of roads planning in NSW. She has also criticised the NSW Government for appealing to the Federal Government for billions of dollars more in public funds for Stage 3, which shows that the business case doesn't add up and the private sector would not go near it.

Dr Faruqi said:

"The Government is now saying there will be another major change to the WestConnex toll road, revealing an amateurish moving feast of transport planning in NSW.

"Even worse, the NSW Government is now appealing for billions more in federal taxpayer dollars to fund Stage 3 of this ill-conceived project, because the private sector won't touch it as the business case doesn't add up.

"Just last week, the Greens revealed figures showing that there is a more than half-billion dollar annual black hole in WestConnex numbers and now the NSW Government is scrambling to have the Federal Government fill that gap.

"The Government's addiction to motorway tunnels has reached a frenzy with three more pie in the sky tunnels added to the already ill-conceived WestConnex on top of this major realignment

"Premier Baird is dismally hoping to build his way out of the mess that is the WestConnex toll road.

"For the Government to keep investing billions of dollars in motorway tunnels shows they have learnt nothing from the failed Cross City and Lane Cove tunnels.

"WestConnex is to the NSW Government what the East West Link was to the Liberals in Victoria, an albatross around their neck.  The Government has treated the electorate with contempt by refusing to release even basic information about the $15 billion project" Dr Faruqi concluded.

Daily Telegraph Story: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/westconnex-how-victorian-voters-put-us-in-a-3-billion-fast-lane/story-fni0cx12-1227140225913

Media contact: Matt Hilton 9230 2625 / 0423 106 247