Perrottet said the government’s reasons for carrying out the project were not political, although the Liberal-occupied Parramatta seat will be the target of Labor in the March elections.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic was an example of when governments sometimes needed to re-evaluate priorities.
Artist print of the second stage of the light rail line over the Parramatta River between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point. Credit: PAYCE
“When circumstances change, you have to be humble to sit there and say, ‘Well, what’s the best way to stage projects that are in the best interests of the people in our state?’ ”
City Minister Rob Stokes said it was inevitable that NSW would reach a saturation point because of the number of megaprojects it could deliver at one time, but the government was in no way abandoning its infrastructure pipeline.
“Infrastructure is still very much the basis of this government, that’s what we do, we build things. We will do everything, but we can’t do everything at once, “Stokes said.
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“We will always get to a point where the massive increase would reach a normal level. What we are realizing now is that it is important to moderate recruitment because we are not really just bidding against ourselves and raising costs artificially.”
While Stokes would not confirm the amount of funding allocated to the light rail project in the budget, he said “it’s a lot of money.”
He said the light rail project, which has been questioned for years, has been chosen to continue despite independent advice otherwise, due to population and housing growth in the country. zone.
“There will be a significant urban expansion there. While [the] Beaches Link and the second stage of the M6 are not areas where there will be significant housing during this same period, “he said.
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“So when we choose what to hire early, we will obviously prefer those that will have the closest alignment with the new housing offer.”
The NSW Infrastructure report, which was presented at the request of former Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian over the COVID-19, cites both the pandemic and an overheated construction market as the two biggest risks to moving forward with large constructions.
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