Minister Barr: Cross-border transport a top priority under NSW/ACT MOU
- Written by ACT Government
Released 03/11/2017
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro today announced that improvement in transport links will be a top priority under their re-commitment to the ACT - NSW Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as outlined in the cross-border Annual Report and 2017-18 Worklist released today.
Mr Barr and Mr Barilaro have both been vocal supporters of improved rail services in the Canberra region and between Canberra and Sydney.
“We have had some really good discussions with the NSW Government about improvements to the network, and I’m delighted that we have made a joint submission to the Federal Government’s National Rail Program,” Mr Barr said.
“The MOU I signed with the former Premier Mike Baird, and reaffirmed with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, has already resulted in some great outcomes for both jurisdictions in health and education. I’m confident that both jurisdictions can now work together to see some significant improvements in travel times between Canberra and Sydney and through the CBR region,” he said.
Mr Barr said a borderless region is a vision his government will continue to pursue, adding progress is already being made thanks to the cross-border partnership.
“We’re about creating jobs, assisting industry and growing our economies, and the ACT Government looks forward to building on the success achieved thus far,” Mr Barr said.
Mr Barilaro said the MoU is providing an effective and structured way to tackle cross-border issues.
“I am committed to ensuring communities living on the border of the ACT and NSW are not disadvantaged in any way, and they get the services and facilities they deserve,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Given there’s an estimated 20,000 daily traffic movements from NSW into the ACT, transport planning strategies that recognise the cross-border intersection, including the draft NSW Future Transport 2056 Strategy are underway to make life easier for commuters,” he said.
The NSW Cross-Border Commissioner James McTavish said the Annual Report and Worklist reveal significant progress and an ambitious schedule of projects for the coming 12 months, delivering benefits for border residents and further cementing the cross-border relationship between NSW and the ACT.
Other key projects identified in the 2017-18 Cross-Border Commissioner’s worklist are:
- Develop a 12 month plan to advance international air freight from Canberra Airport;
- Further integrate cross border emergency services and emergency response plans, with an emphasis on flood and storm emergencies;
- Arrange for transport options such as taxis, ride sharing and courtesy buses to operate legally across borders; and
- Align services and enhance access to housing and support for victims of family and domestic violence.
The 2016/17 ACT-NSW Progress Report and the 2017/18 ACT-NSW Annual Worklist are available at http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/programs_and_services/office_of_the_nsw_cross_border_commissioner
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | | Media Releases
