news, local-news,

Continued funding for the F6 extension showed the government was serious about the project, according to NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay. The extension of the road, now know as the M1 Princes Motorway, would run from Waterfall to St Peters in Sydney. Mr Gay said the past two state budgets had funded investigations for the extension. "Last year's budget included $10 million for the 'Southern Sydney Access to F6 Feasibility Study' and planning work is now well under way," he said. "In this year's budget, a total of $7.7 million has been allocated to the 'Gateway to the South - M1 Extension' which when combined with last year's planning funding, proves the NSW government's strong commitment to the Illawarra region, unlike previous Labor governments that took the Illawarra for granted for 16 years." The Gateway to the South project will also receive part of the $300 million in funding to address "notorious pinch points" on key roads throughout Sydney. While the exact locations of the pinch points to be fixed have not been finalised, the work has the potential to benefit Illawarra commuters driving to Sydney. The bulk of the remaining roads funding in the region was for projects already under way. This included $11.9 million to complete stage one of the Princes Highway at Gerringong and $140 million for stage two - the Foxground and Berry bypass. The third stage of the upgrade to Bomaderry received $4.5 million for planning. There was also $3 million for planning for the Albion Park Rail bypass. As expected, there was no mention of funding for the Maldon-Dombarton freight rail line. The government is looking to the private sector to fund that, having called for expressions of interest in building the line.

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