Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the government would need to seriously consider progressing current plans for Gunnedah’s second rail overpass.
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“What are our options, can we get the same objective with different options?” Mr Anderson questioned.
His comments follow confirmation of another bridge budget blowout. The latest estimate for the planned northern overpass is now $58 million – up from $32 million last year.
Mr Anderson was “extremely uncomfortable” with the new figure. He could not answer how government would fund the project’s multimillion-dollar increase, but said Gunnedah residents had good reason to feel equally perturbed.
“I’m hearing from the community that $58 million doesn’t fall into line with expectation,” he said.
“They need to know, is this project value for money?”
Among issues plaguing the project and forcing expenditure skyward were ongoing flooding concerns, not quantified in initial testing, from nearby Blackjack Creek; upgrades to overpass approaches, namely from the Kamilaroi Highway and a “new” requirement for the bridge to cater to “double-stack freight train capacity”.
The project was discussed via teleconference with Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Duncan Gay on Wednesday evening. Next Thursday Mr Anderson will meet Gunnedah Shire Council general manager Eric Groth and mayor Jamie Chaffey to talk further on current developments.
The overpass saga was discussed at length by councillor Owen Hasler during council’s ordinary meeting last week. The former mayor shook hands with Mr Gay in Gunnedah when the project was first announced in 2012 at a cost of just $16 million, but called time on the overdue, over-budget bridge.
“It’s about time we got an answer from the minister which is believable and achievable,” Cr Hasler said. “People are becoming cynical and I don’t blame them.”
Gunnedah council also requested a meeting with Mr Gay to clarify a timeline for the overpass construction.
