First down payment
Thursday 5 June, 2008 8:00am
PREMIER Morris Iemma yesterday made his first down payment on the new northwest metro link, promising in the State Budget to spend $106 million to make the much-needed project happen.
But while the government made the jump into this bold new form of public transport for Sydney, a project that symbolises its rail woes has undergone yet another delay and cost blow-out.
The Budget papers reveal the troubled Epping-Chatswood rail link will not be finished for at least another 12 months, with the bill for taxpayers climbing to $2.346 billion.
When the project was first promised in 1998 it was meant to be completed by now and run all the way to Parramatta at a cost of just $1.4 billion.
The metro link replaces the government's original plan for a heavy rail line extension from Epping to the booming growth areas of Kellyville and Rouse Hill.
Local underground stations for the link are planned for Epping, Denistone East and Top Ryde.
The Budget also confirmed the controversial duplication of the Iron Cove Bridge will go ahead after $40 million was committed to begin work on one of Victoria Rd's worst bottlenecks.
However no solution for the long-awaited M2-F3 has been forthcoming in the Budget, with the RTA planning to spend $500,000 in the coming 12 months on further studies.
The redevelopment of Ryde Bus Depot will be finished next year after $6.3 million was promised.
With transport winning the lion's share of funding in the Budget, no new major projects were announced for the northern district in other portfolios.
Ryde Hospital will receive $2.5 million to finish its redevelopment, while Ryde ambulance station is also slated to be completed after $1.6 million was allocated.
Renovations for Ryde Public School will cost $4.7 million to finish.
The upgrade of Ryde TAFE's hospitality classrooms will wrap up next year while tenders will also be called for refurbishing the training kitchens at Ryde and Meadowbank campuses.
