Sydney's M6 motorway could be at risk of more delays beyond 2028
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison told a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday she could not give a time frame for completion of the project, which has already been delayed by three years until the end of 2028.
Work on the multibillion-dollar motorway almost halted at the end of June after the contractor said it would walk away from the troubled project, before agreeing to finish road works on the surface.
Under intensive questioning from opposition MPs about whether she had been advised the project could be delayed beyond 2030, Ms Aitchison said there was 'always a risk that it could be of any time frame'.
However, she said she did not recall receiving such a date, saying 'maybe I have, maybe I haven't'.
The project was supposed to provide the city's south with a 'missing link' to the wider motorway network, but has been marred by challenging conditions on the ground.
The $3.1bn first stage of the project involved tunnelling on twin 4km tunnels, linking the M8 motorway at Arncliffe to President Ave at Kogarah, in Sydney's south.
Two sinkholes opened up above the project in March last year.
Ms Aitchison told the hearing she did not have a view on whether the project could still be completed by 2028 deadline.
'I'm not an engineer,' she said.
'Until we fund a technical solution, we cannot give a timeline. We want to make sure that we get the right solution, that there's not an additional cost to the taxpayers on this.
'There is too much work that is being undertaken by the department and by the contractor to try and resolve the issue.'
Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray said the agency was expected to provide an update to the government about the latest findings from technical assessments within the coming weeks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
20 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Mortgage rate relief for big four bank customers starts today
Millions of Australian mortgage holders will start saving on their mortgages from Friday. Commonwealth Bank and ANZ customers will officially start saving on their variable interest rates from Friday, as the two major bank's pass on last Tuesday's interest-rate cut. The Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate on August 12 by 25 basis points to 3.60 per cent for the third rate cut of the cycle. CBA also announced it was cutting fixed rates to coincide with the variable rate drop, with borrowers saving between 0.10 to 0.45 per cent depending on the type of loan and borrowing period. Principal and interest rates will be reduced by 20 basis points to 5.49 per cent over one year, while those wanting to fix rates for three years can lock in a 15 basis point savings at 5.34 per cent. Longer-term loans over five years fixed are now available at 5.94 per cent, a 35 basis point reduction. The biggest savings will be for interest-only home loans, with two-year rates down 45 basis points to 5.69 per cent. NAB and Westpac customers will have to wait a few more days to get interest-rate relief on their variable home loans. NAB will reduce its standard variable home loan rates by 0.25 per cent starting from Monday, August 25. Westpac told customers it was passing on the cut in full to their variable rate customers and savers alike. Savers will have their interest rates dropped from August 22, reducing the amount they are making off their money, but mortgage holders will have to wait a further four days to get any interest-rate relief. Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said 79 lenders had published a variable rate change since the RBA's announcement. 'While most lenders are passing on the full cut, there's a three-week range in when these cuts become effective, with Athena and Unloan passing it on within minutes of the announcement last Tuesday, while other lenders hold out until 2 and 3 September to pass on the relief,' she said. To the frustration of mortgage holders with Aussie Home Loans, Select-branded variable rates will only fall by 10 basis points. Stats released by comparison site Canstar show mortgage holders with a $500,000 loan can expect to save about $74 per month. These figures are based on an owner-occupier paying principal and interest with 25 years remaining on the mortgage. Aussies owing the bank up to $1m can expect to save about $148 per month. When added with the two previous interest-rate cuts in February and May, those with a $500,000 loan could potentially save $226 per month, while those with a $1m loan could save up to $453 per month.
ABC News
40 minutes ago
- ABC News
Education consultant says proposed childcare reforms should go further
Education ministers from across the country are set to meet in Sydney today for crucial talks on how to implement desperately needed reforms to the childcare sector in the wake of shocking abuse allegations. The proposed reforms include a national register of childcare workers, and a trial of CCTV in centres. ABC Newsradio's Brendan Arrow spoke with education and care consultant Lisa Bryant about the reforms and what they might be missing.
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Explainer: What is ‘productivity' and how is it measured?
Subscribe to the SBS Nepali podcast here . Disclaimer: We would like to inform you that the opinions expressed in the segment are those of the talent himself. This information may not be appropriate for you - contact your tax agent or financial advisor for accurate advice on your situation.
