Freight efficiency, road safety and support for drought-affected areas will continue to improve across regional New South Wales thanks to the completion of the Newell Highway Corridor Strategy.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government-funded strategy would ensure the corridor serves the needs of the freight industry and regional communities well into the future.
“The Newell Highway is one of the most significant freight and tourist routes in New South Wales, providing a major regional freight and passenger transport connection to Victoria and Queensland,” Mr McCormack said.
“The strategy delivers an evidence-based 10-year investment roadmap that will inform future investment across the length of the Newell Highway over the long term to maximise productivity gains for freight users on the corridor.
“The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government had already committed $70 million to the Newell Highway corridor through the 2019-20 Budget.
“Planning is well advanced for our $100 million Parkes Bypass election commitment, with construction due to begin in mid-2020.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the strategy was further proof of the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting and enhancing critical regional roads.
“The strategy, developed through evaluation of current and future demand along the corridor, assessment of existing performance and stakeholder engagement, identifies six key corridor objectives,” Mr Buchholz said.
“These objectives include road and rail solutions designed to meet growing freight efficiency demands and reduce costs for regional supply chains.
“By taking a strategic approach to guide future investment priorities, the Federal Liberal and
Nationals Government is prioritising getting Australians home or to where they need to be, no matter where they live, sooner and safer.”
The strategy can be viewed at https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/newell-highway/
