DEVELOPMENT of a new bridge spanning the Murray River at Swan Hill could be “on the chopping block”, warns Member for Mallee Anne Webster.
Dr Webster said she was “gobsmacked” that the Federal Government was “stalling and putting at risk” the new bridge.
“Labor’s ominous 90-day review into the infrastructure pipeline includes the Swan Hill bridge, we learned in Senate estimates this last week,” Dr Webster said.
“While Labor has spared Daniel Andrews’ pet monster – the $125 billion suburban rail loop – from the review, a new Swan Hill bridge, at a fraction of the cost and awaited for decades, could be on the chopping block.”
The former Coalition federal government pledged $60 million to replace the bridge in April 2019 but the project has been held up in heritage bureaucracy in respective NSW and Victorian planning and transport departments.
“The community have waited long enough,” Dr Webster said.
“It’s abysmal that the Albanese Government’s city-centric focus could see this project become another regional can kicked down the road.”
The Federal Government said it was maintaining its commitment to the 10-year $120 billion infrastructure pipeline, and following through on projects already under construction.
Under the previous Coalition government, the number of infrastructure projects in the pipeline increased from nearly 150 to 800.
The Federal Government said that these projects “did not have adequate funding or resources, projects without real benefits to the public were approved, and the clogged pipeline has caused delays and overruns in important projects”.
This process was intended to allow all levels of government time to consider the projects that were priorities and assess their cost and deliverability in the current climate.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said: “A properly functioning infrastructure investment pipeline means projects can be delivered with more confidence about timeframes and budgets.
“Easing the pressure on the construction sector will help drive inflation lower and deliver more predictable investment and delivery outcomes from governments.
“Communities will benefit from national significant infrastructure with shorter and safer travel, more liveable cities, suburbs and regions, while the economy benefits from the certainty brought by a smoother delivery of investment matched to project timelines.
“Importantly for industry, projects under construction will proceed and we have committed to maintain significant infrastructure investment for the medium term.”
Swan Hill Mayor Les McPhee said all levels of government needed to review funding, but he was hoping it didn’t impact the bridge project.
“Some of the money has already been used for planning for a new bridge, so what is left certainly needs to stay there so we can advocate to the two state governments to input their funding as well.”
Cr McPhee admitted it was a concern the bridge project was being reviewed, but was optimistic the rest of the funding remained committed despite a new government being elected.
“There may be projects taken off the funding stream, some changed and put on hold, but ours cannot be,” he said.
“It has been on hold for far too long.”
Transport NSW is preparing preliminary design work to be brought back to the community later this year, to be followed by geotechnical studies and a business case that outlines how much the project will cost.
