Further funding: Celebration at Kyeemagh Infants School after an initial budget allocation was provided in the 2017 state budget. Picture John Veage
Funding has been provided in the state budget for a range of road, rail, hospital and school infrastructure projects in St George and Sutherland Shire.
Major allocations have been announced over the last few weeks, with some spending a continuation of previously announced works, such as the expansion of Kyeemagh Infants School to a K-6 primary school.
The biggest ticket item is $1.2 billion over four years for stage one of the F6 extension, which Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced earlier was expected to cost up to $2.6 billion.
“Stage one is expected to open to traffic in 2024,” the budget papers stated.
Other allocations for the region included:
ROADS
- A modest start has been made on the government’s commitment to spend $173 million upgrading Heathcote Road. Only $4 million has been allocated this year for the Woronora River Bridge and approaches at Engadine, with $7.6 million towards duplicating the road between Voyager Point and Hammondville.
- $10 million to continue a project to widen King Georges Road between Stoney Creek Road, Beverly Hills and Connells Point Road, South Hurstville.
- $16.7 million towards new ramps to and from the M5 motorway at Belmore Road, Riverwood. The state and federal governments are jointly funding the work.
RAIL
- Funding provided for digitalised signalling program, with the T4 Illawarra and T8 Airport lines the first to benefit with extra services to be added to the timetable in the “early 2020s”.
- Unquantified funding to start construction on multi-level commuter car park at Beverly Hills station.
- Continued planning for a lift and other improvements at Como station. This project was announced in the 2017 budget and no date has been given for when work will take place.
- Funding for planning for additional commuter car parking at Engadine train station. No details provided.
HOSPITALS
- $10 million towards refurbishing the birthing suite and theatres at St George Hospital. The project is expected to cost $11.5 million and be completed in 2020.
- Final refurbishment works following major redevelopments at St George Hospital and Sutherland Hospital.
SCHOOLS
