Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 5:42:16 to 5:49:15
Inquiry into the Maitland Westbound Upgrade, focusing on the involvement of local members in negotiations and the current status of the business case and construction estimates.
Topics: Infrastructure, Integrity
Speakers: Senator Maria Kovacic, Lok Potticary, Hon Anthony Chisholm, Jessica Hall, Unknown Speaker, Hon Bridget McKenzie
block of questions in relation to the Meland um westbound upgrade. Um,
you've done circular key.
>> I referenced some documents on table C and the sorry um document C um attachment A which is page um nine of the FOI um and the steering committee minutes um noting that there isn't um an agenda that is provided in that list of documents or referenced anywhere. Are you able to tell me whether Miss Swanson or anyone from her office was involved in that meeting?
>> Uh, no. As in the answer is no.
>> They weren't involved or
>> No, that's right. Was not involved?
>> So, no one neither Miss Swanson or anyone in her office was involved in that meeting?
>> Not in any meetings that I've been involved in? No.
>> Thank you. Are you able to tell me um what planning, costing or design matters concerning the Matland flyover were discussed at that meeting and if any decisions were made at that meeting?
>> That's subject to the um PII and also the FOI. So, we'll just have to take those on notice and work out what we can and can't tell you.
>> Okay. And and just confirming um who at the table, if you're able to tell me, was at that meeting on the 8th of May?
Uh, I believe I would have been at that meeting that I would that would have been a meeting that I was at.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um, returning to Miss Swanson's claim that she had commenced discussions and negotiations with the New South Wales minister and transport for New South Wales. Um, what records does the department hold of those interactions before the 8th of May 2025, if any?
>> It's a bit bit hard for the department to provide an answer when they haven't seen those comments. uh senator. So I think in terms of thoroughess uh it's easier to better to see the comments uh that the uh member has made and yeah they might provide some appropriate context uh for the fantastic local members commitment to road projects.
>> Okay. And I'm happy to take that on notice at the minister's recommendation but also reframe the question. Um, can the department confirm for me whether Miss Swanson participated in any discussions in relation to this project before the 8th of May?
>> So, we don't participate in conversations with um members of parliament.
it's not the general role that members of parliament go uh rolling around talking to the department on matters like this.
>> Hence my questions.
>> Yeah, sure. But um I don't know what engagement >> uh the member had had with Minister King's office or um other uh people involved in the project.
>> Sure. Thank you. Um when did formal Commonwealth New South Wales negotiations on this project commence?
What do you mean by negotiations? I
um discussions around funding the project perhaps um what it would look like um what the funding agreement was going to be, what would be the federal funding, what would be the state general negot discussions negotiations.
>> I'm just trying to remember when uh this was including so it it would have been on or it is on a federation funding uh agreement funding table that's been uh provided to the New South Wales government and uh that sub subsequently been agreed to. So, it's a that's I guess the formality of the project um being agreed to under the under the IIP. Um I'd have to come back to you on when that was
>> if you could provide the date on notice.
>> When that was provided to the um to the New South Wales government.
>> Thank you. And if you could provide that on notice and just also if you can provide on notice unless you're able to answer it directly now whether Miss Swanson had any formal role or delegated authority in any of those discussions or
negotiations. Well, what I know is that uh Mel Swanson is a fantastic local member, very hardworking uh and has a fantastic record of achievement for her
>> If you could provide the answer to those questions on notice for me.
>> So, I think the minister has answered that in terms of um
>> No, my question I'll repeat it. Did Miss Swanson have any formal role or delegated authority in those negotiations? she doesn't have any
formal role and she doesn't have any delegation in regards to the decision making.
>> Thank you. Um and just to finish off in in light of um uh the answers that I've given and that you've given and the fact that um the business case is currently underway due um or under development due in late 2027. Um, has the department have any um updated construction cost estimates for this project as yet?
>> No, I don't have an updated cost estimate, Senator.
>> Okay. Has any of the estimated hund00 million allocation been spent to date?
>> Uh, no. I think is the answer.
Um, are there any discussions or have there been discussions as to whether if the project see exceeds the hund00 million who will be responsible for the shortfall?
I think as we said, Senator um uh because they're still going through the um design and scope of it. Um we'll have to see what they're actually doing, but I think they're working out how to deliver the scope within the budget.
>> Yeah, sure. The the reason I've asked those questions is there is a um a document that was released in August 2026 updating the community about the um Matland westbound upgrade and it talks about the work that Transport for New South Wales is carrying out in relation to Geotech. So I'm trying to get a sense of whether that's come out of the um estimated project cost or if that's um a separate piece of money that the state government has spent on this.
So I expect it is being delivered as part of this project. Um but I guess going to the response, we have not made milestone payments against that project at this point.
>> Okay. Um and just my final question um noting again that um you're expecting the business case late next year, late 2027. Do we have um a time frame on when construction is expected to commence on the project?
>> No, I think that'll be informed by the the planning work and the business case.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you, chair.