Communities across Far West NSW are being invited to help shape the future of transport across one of the state’s most unique and expansive regions, with the Minns Labor Government releasing the draft Far West Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan.
The draft Plan sets out a long-term vision for transport infrastructure and services that reflects the Far West’s distinctive communities, vast distances and unique transport needs to better connect communities to jobs, services, and opportunities across the region.
It identifies more than 30 potential short, medium and long-term initiatives to improve safety, connectivity and transport choice while supporting future growth and changing community needs.
For the first time in more than a decade, Far West communities can help shape a single integrated transport plan for their region.
The draft SRITP has been informed by more than 200 ideas gathered through workshops, meetings and written submissions, along with a further 86 contributions via the Have Your Say portal.
Developed in consultation with local councils, Members of Parliament and community groups, it builds on previous planning work and is now being released for broader community feedback.
Community feedback will help refine the Draft Plan and identify the initiatives that matter most to local people, helping guide future decisions about transport infrastructure and services across the Far West.
The Far West SRTIP is one of nine plans being developed across regional NSW as part of the Minns Government’s commitment to improving transport infrastructure and services across the state.
Key directions of the Draft Plan include:
- Build a more resilient transport network, through corridor resilience planning and improvements to the road network funding model.
- Improve access to jobs, healthcare, education, recreation and Country for Aboriginal communities.
- Enhancing connections to local, regional and metropolitan destinations by improving public transport services and supporting the visitor economy.
- Support well-located development and local economies by identifying opportunities for improved main street planning and better heavy vehicle route planning.
- Improve freight efficiency though the development and implementation of the NSW Regional Rail Plan and the Far West freight network plan.
- Create a safer road network by improving main roads, roads into towns, town entry gateway treatments and heavy vehicle rest stops.
The Minns Government is now calling on the community to have their say.
Community members can view the draft SRITP and provide feedback until 11:59pm Friday 11 September by visiting https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/far-west. A survey has been designed to make it easy to provide feedback on key themes and initiatives proposed in the plan.
