No plans for NSW M4

The state government asked for just $28 million in planning funds for the $10 billion M4 East – money contained in the federal budget – in a 98-page submission to Infrastructure Australia, The Telegraph reported.
After six months in office, the best Premier Barry O’Farrell could do for the $10 billion M4 East and $5 billion M5 duplication projects was to ask for the $28 million.

The Premier had promised to improve on NSW Labor’s submissions to Infrastructure Australia which former prime minister Kevin Rudd labelled inadequate.

But a spokesman for federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said the minister was surprised at the submission and the state government was aware $30 million was already available for M4 East planning.

"All they need to do is write to Albo and the money will be released," the spokesman said.

NRMA president Wendy Machin said the government needed to get moving on the projects or "we’ll still be talking about them in 10 years’ time. People have been dancing around the M4 extension for far too long," Ms Machin said.

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