Although sources familiar with the review suggested the price dropped to $ 10 million, Perrottet opted to keep two flagpoles at the top of the massive structure.
“It’s best to put those funds in to close the gap initiatives,” he said of the $ 25 million.
The high price was driven by the complex works required to install a new six-story flagpole at the top of the listed heritage bridge. The two existing flagpoles were also expected to be replaced, while work was needed to change the beacon of an aircraft.
Funding was part of a larger $ 400 million budget investment to prioritize gap closure initiatives, and the government also returned the goat island to indigenous owners.
Along with the Aboriginal flag initiative, the Herald in February he revealed Perrottet’s intention to return the island of the goat, or Me-Mel, to traditional landowners.
Woman Kamilaroi Cheree Toka launched the campaign to make the flag waves permanently on the bridge five years ago, amassing more than 170,000 signatures.
Perrottet’s predecessor, Gladys Berejiklian, resisted calls to add the flag to the bridge during her tenure as prime minister.
NSW opposition leader Chris Minns has previously said Labor’s long-standing position was that the flag deserves a place on the bridge 365 days a year.