Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 5:54:30 to 5:59:07
Updates on the Middleton Drive extension and the completion of road upgrades supporting access to the Western Sydney International Airport.
Topics: Infrastructure, Procurement
Speakers: Lok Potticary, Hon James McGrath, Jessica Hall, Unknown Speaker, Senator Glenn Sterle
Can you provide an update on the status of the $6 million comworth commitment to the Middleton Drive extension and M7 underpass project, including the amount expended to date and any outstanding approvals or milestones?
>> So, while my team's getting it ready, the council will finalize the detailed design in early 2026 and has been working with Transport for New South Wales and the M7 motorway team to progress the project. Um uh next steps include working with the council to undertake additional scoping investigations which are expected to be completed in quarter 1 2027 um to um finalize design and delivery of the project and I will let them answer the question in regards to the dollars.
>> Yeah. And in terms of um there's been no payments made against that project to
have you receive received any advice from the council uh that they are reconsidering the project because of cost escalations and traffic modeling indicating an additional 6,000 vehicles per day could be directed through surrounding
that the council is doing some additional investigations around the traffic side of things. Um it will be a new connection. So they're they're doing some additional modeling around what that might look like in terms of traffic movements.
>> Um h has the council formally communicated those concerns to the
department? Uh yes, we aware we're aware of them and uh understand that that's been um conversations within the council as well. So publicly available council discussions, but yes, we have had conversations with the council about
so considering that that you're aware of the concerns of of the of the council in relation to the changes in cost and concerns about traffic management. Has the department provided advice to the government about the future of the Middleton Drive underpass project?
Uh, yes, we have provided advice.
>> On on what date was that advice provided
>> I'd need to check that, Senator. I'll need to take that on notice.
with the Western Sydney International Airport opening yesterday, can the department update us on which Comwalth funded road upgrades supporting airport access remain under construction or in planning and their expected completion
So in terms of uh roads supporting access to the Western Sydney airport, they are all complete in terms of like the last of the I guess what you would call day one roads was the M12 motorway um which which links up um the Northern Road to the M7 and that project was completed in um I think it was June. So in terms of day one access and being able to access the airport that is complete. Um there are a range of other road upgrades in the airport precinct which are um sort of in the contracting phase and I'm talking about Elizabeth Drive and the next stage of Mamray Road provide access and increase capacity on those roads for some of the commercial precincts around there. But in terms of day one access, the M12 was the last road and that is open to traffic.
>> Okay. Um, chair, um, that's me. I've got other questions that I'll put on notice, but uh, thank you for your assistance.