$9b state infrastructure strategy
A PLAN identifying $9 billion worth of priority projects for regional NSW has received mixed reviews from North West councils.
Infrastructure NSW yesterday released its 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy, a list of priority infrastructure investments and reforms for metropolitan and regional NSW “required to drive productivity and economic growth”. For those in the regions, fixing rail and road bottlenecks, bridge upgrades and new dams were seen as the most pressing needs.
Tamworth Regional Council mayor Col Murray described it as a “great initiative for the bush”, but said the challenge for the government would now be finding the dollars. Moree Plains Shire mayor Katrina Humphries couldn’t find much to get excited about, saying there appeared to be “not a lot for rural councils”, and Liverpool Plains Shire mayor Ian Lobsey said it appeared the mining industry would be the main beneficiary of many of the regional priorities.