The federal government will come good on its $50 million election commitment to Appin Road, said a senior minister.
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This comes after calls from Cunningham MP Sharon Bird to release a timetable for the road upgrade.
In the 2016 election campaign Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited the suburb of Smeaton Grange, near Campbelltown, and promised $50 million for an upgrade of Appin Road.
This came a day after Labor leader Bill Shorten’s visit to Campbelltown to promise the same amount for Appin Road - timing that led some to suggest the Prime Minister’s visit had been leaked to the Labor party.
Mr Turnbull’s pledge was directed at the Campbelltown end of the road for “targeted works between Rosemeadow and Appin” and promised better vehicle separation and improvement to road shoulders.
The Turnbull government is committed to delivering every policy announced in the 2016 election campaign.
- Darren Chester
Close to 12 months later, there has been no sign of work on that stretch of road.
“We do not want to see a three-year wait for these urgent improvements like we saw with the truck stop upgrade at the top of Mt Ousley,” Ms Bird.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the government’s Appin Road promise would not be forgotten.
“I can assure the local community that the Turnbull government is committed to delivering every policy announced in the 2016 election campaign,” Mr Chester said.
“The government announced $306.8 million of road and rail infrastructure commitments in NSW during the 2016 election.
“Included in those commitments was $50 million towards targeted works on Appin Road, which will improve road safety and unlock affordable housing along the road.”
Mr Chester said they were working with the state government “to determine the scope of works to be undertaken”.
A spokesman for Roads and Maritime Services confirmed it was reviewing the Appin Road corridor as part of that $50 million commitment.
“Early work, including geotechnical studies has been carried out to help inform any future upgrades which may include road widening and new overtaking lanes,” the spokesman said.
