NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and the region’s Mayors and General Managers have emerged from a meeting last Thursday with a list of major infrastructure projects to submit for a share of the potential new $6 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund.
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The opportunity for the windfall funding for country NSW comes from the possible 49% per cent long-term lease of the largely metropolitan poles and wires networks, should the government be re-elected next year. The Essential Energy network will remain in 100% public ownership and this will be enshrined in legislation.
The rural and regional fund will be created using 30% of the proceeds from the asset transaction. It is estimated that the fund will be at least $6 billion.
The eight current Northern Tablelands councils, together with Moree Plains Shire and the New England County Council, were in unanimous agreement over the six regional projects to go forward on behalf of the Northern Tablelands area.
In no particular order, the projects are:
• Construction of Apsley Dam (Walcha);
• Expansion of Armidale Regional Airport’s runway and terminal;
• Upgrade of Thunderbolts Way road sections and bridges (Inverell, Uralla and Walcha Shires);
• Enhancement of Bellevue Oval to national multi-sport standard (Armidale, University of New England);
• Redevelopment/upgrade of Armidale, Inverell & Glen Innes Hospitals; and
• Major freight corridor upgrades/by-passes along the Gwydir Highway (Moree, Warialda, Inverell and Glen Innes Shires), North Star bridges and Mt Lindsay Road (Tenterfield).
To be eligible, infrastructure projects must be on a scale and importance so as to benefit a whole region, not just one or two communities, and provide an economic return.
“While there will be a lot of competition for these potential funds, I believe last Thursday has helped put us in a very strong position,” Mr Marshall said.
