Great Western Highway Upgrade

Farmers are frustrated by a stoush between state and federal governments that is holding up the construction of a vital freight link. On Tuesday Transport Minister Catherine King said the federal government would fund the start and end of the Great Western Highway upgrade, but there was “no money for the middle section” – a tunnel proposed by the state government.

Infrastructure Australia has released its business case assessment of the East and West sections of the proposed upgrade of the Great Western Highway ... The Hartley Valley community has been vindicated by the Infrastructure Australia report and we are delighted the Federal Government’s infrastructure advisor has shown what a nonsense this upgrade of the East and West sections truly is.

The Hartley District Progress Association (HDPA) and the community of Hartley welcome the Federal Government’s decision to pause funding on the NSW State Government’s proposed Great Western Highway “upgrade” from Katoomba to Lithgow. Stopping the “upgrade” provides a critical opportunity to reconsider how best to improve travel times across the Blue Mountains and how best to direct infrastructure funding.