Mayor's Message - March 2024
Posted on: 20.03.2024
Building on the advocacy work we have done to date, Council has made a pre-budget submission to the NSW Treasury on key infrastructure items for inclusion in the 2024-2035 State Budget. We have long been calling on the NSW government to provide funding for a wide range of projects that are critical to the provision of services for existing and new residents and to prepare the Shire for the impact of current and future growth.
These projects include;
- Picton Bypass - Funding for and the commencement of the Picton Bypass within this term of government
- State road reclassification - Reclassifying our top three regional roads as State Roads (Remembrance Dwy, Menangle and Silverdale Roads)
- Wilton growth area infrastructure and services:
- Health services: Securing land and progressing a new Urgent Care Centre/Integrated Health Hub
- Transport services: Bus Rapid Transit in operation by 2024, with a plan developed and approved for future rail services
- Education: Four schools (three Primary and one High) funded and on track to open by 2030
- Appin Growth Area Infrastructure Plan: Seeking a robust fully-funded infrastructure plan, including a staging and sequencing plan, signed off before or in conjunction with any land-use rezoning, or prior to the mid-2024 if the rezoning has already occurred
- Required upgrades to Picton Road including the Picton Road Hume Highway interchange
- Planning commenced for a High School n the north of the Shire
We are calling for the provision of funding within the 2024-25 State Budget and forward estimates for these critical items, so that we can make sure we have vibrant, healthy and sustainable communities now and in the future.