Better connections between communities, stronger freight links and a safer, more resilient road network are among the priorities of a new 20-year vision for transport across the Central West and Orana.
Today, the Minns Labor Government has released the final Central West and Orana Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP) following extensive consultation with local communities, councils, industry and other stakeholders.
The Central West and Orana is one of the largest regions in NSW, spanning almost 13 million hectares with 19 local government areas and home to just over 290,000 people. It’s also a popular tourist destination, drawing millions of visitors to the region each year.
From the tablelands around Bathurst and Orange to the vast plains around Dubbo and Coonamble, communities across the region rely on reliable transport connections to access jobs, education, healthcare, shops and essential services.
The region is also an economic powerhouse, with agriculture, logistics, health, mining and tourism driving local economies, alongside new opportunities emerging from the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
The Plan identifies a suite of short and medium-term initiatives and longer-term outcomes including:
- Investigating expanding day-return bus and coach services to connect smaller communities with regional centres such as Dubbo, Bathurst and Orange.
- Investigating rail infrastructure upgrades to support more frequent services between Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow and Sydney.
- Developing a freight network plan to improve road access to intermodal terminals and support greater use of rail freight.
- Investigating potential bypasses for population centres where state roads need to balance local access with through-traffic.
- Developing a plan to deliver multi-stage town entry gateway treatments across the region.
- Investigating a streamlined funding model to support councils with the long-term maintenance and upgrade of local road networks.
- Developing a program of work to respond to the challenges and opportunities along the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road between Bathurst and Western Sydney.
The region’s population is expected to grow to around 325,000 people by 2041, with most growth projected to occur around Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo and Mudgee.
At the same time, the number of residents aged over 65 is greater than the state average and is expected to increase, highlighting the importance of accessible and flexible transport options that help older people stay connected to health services, shops and their communities.
Improving safety for everyone using the region’s transport network is also a key priority, with the Plan identifying initiatives to support safer journeys for residents, workers and visitors across all modes of transport.
The Plan aims to improve access to reliable, affordable and accessible transport, helping people connect with the services and opportunities they need while supporting economic growth and the wellbeing of communities across the region.
The Central West and Orana SRITP is one of nine regional transport plans being developed as part of Transport for NSW’s broader strategy to respond to the evolving transport needs of regional NSW.
The Central West and Orana SRITP and Final Engagement Report are now available on the Transport for NSW project webpage.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison:
“Communities based in the Central West and Orana regions know better than anyone what they need when it comes to transport.
“For these communities, a quick walk to the shops or a five-minute drive to school isn’t always the reality. Instead, many locals face an hour-long trip to work or school, or a wait for the bus to get down to the shops. Good connections matter – and even more so in our regions.
“We’ve listened to communities, councils and industry, and this plan sets out a clear pathway to deliver the transport connections they asked for, now and over the next 20 years.”
Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Dubbo, Stephen Lawrence:
“This plan sets a clear long-term vision for transport across the Central West and Orana, with a strong focus on the priorities that matter most to communities across our region. In reviewing the draft and this final plan, I was pleased to see the issues and concerns raised by locals reflected accurately.
“From better links between regional centres to stronger freight connections and safer roads, the final SRITP responds to the evolving transport needs of our communities and provides a clear direction for what we’ll need in the future.”
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Dubbo, Josh Black:
“You don’t get a transport network that works by guessing – you get it by asking locals what they actually need.
“It’s great to see practical outcomes from this plan, freight moving efficiently, roads that can handle growth, and councils properly supported to maintain the local networks our communities rely on every day.”
