THE FOLLOWING SIX YEARS

- As Sydney grows the New South Wales Government will continue to invest in public transport to support new growth centres and increased urban consolidation in existing areas.

- In recognition of anticipated population growth and increased demand for rail services, the Government is currently planning an expansion of the metropolitan rail network. The proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Rail Expansion Program will expand the rail network into the growing areas of north west and south west Sydney and add additional capacity in the central business district. A corridor is being preserved for the Parramatta-Epping extension of the Epping to Chatswood line, a project which was deferred in 2004.

- Important road link projects such as the M2 to F3 and possibly F3 to M7 are in the planning stages and corridor preservation will be required to secure these projects. The M4 East Extension is likely to be completed by the end of the decade.

- The Pacific Highway is a critical route supporting economic development and it requires upgrading as soon as possible. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth, signed in December 2005, agreed to work in partnership to investigate potential timing, financing and delivery options to accelerate the duplication of the Pacific Highway.

- The Princes Highway links Sydney and the Illawarra to the Far South East and its upgrade to improve the road, both in terms of safety and amenity, is a key priority currently under investigation.

- Facilitating the development of the rail freight network means that in the coming decade the New South Wales Government will continue to work cooperatively with the Australian Government and Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to increase rail freight capacity and competitiveness, with specific initiatives by New South Wales to increase the share of port container freight carried by rail.

- Investment on the metropolitan network will complement the initiatives of ARTC, and the Auslink program. ARTC's two key investment strategies are:

• A North-South investment strategy worth $1.1 billion to achieve a step-change in rail's competitiveness in the interstate intermodal market

• A Hunter Valley investment strategy worth $375 million to provide rail capacity to meet growing demand for coal haulage.

- The ARTC is also investing over $200 million in major renewals in New South Wales.

[Access: 5.3 Estimated Total Costs Table - PDF]