MEMBERS of the Bells Line Expressway Group were shattered to learn there had been no provision made for the preservation of a corridor through the Blue Moun-tains for at least 15 years, however they have vowed to fight on.
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Group chairman Ian Armstrong said there were no words to express how disappointed and angry he was when he read the Infrastructure Australia Plan and Priority List only to find Bells Line did not rate a mention.
Mr Armstrong has been leading the fight to secure a Bells Line Expressway between Sydney and the Central West for the past 10 years.
He said he was also concerned that the federal government’s advisory body didn’t have the capacity to recognise the benefit to communities at both ends of the corridor.
“But I don’t accept that was our last chance,” Mr Armstrong said. “There’s always a chance if you keep working at it.
“We will be taking every opportunity. It’s all about lobbying the state and federal governments.
“Let’s not forget, governments can change,” Mr Armstrong said.
He said Infrastructure Australia did not understand that metropolitan areas are increasingly relying on regional areas for food.
“Regional areas are responsible for feeding much of Sydney’s population,” Mr Armstrong said.
“More than 430 tonnes of lamb goes to Sydney every night and we send milk as well. Sydney depends on the regions for its tucker.
“There is no land left down there to grow anything, so more and more they are relying on regional areas to deliver good quality food, and we have a responsibility to fill that need.”
Mr Armstrong said a Bells Line Expressway would also boost tourism. He said this region has a lot to offer – motor racing, good food and wine and country shows were all huge drawcards.
Also attending yesterday’s meeting of the Bells Line Expressway Group was CENTROC chair Councillor Bill West. He said CENTROC continues to lobby senior politicians hard.
“Because of the amount of development about to take place we need to preserve the corridor,” he said.
Cr West said failing to make the priority list was very disappointing, particularly in light of the conversations CENTROC had before its release.
“We formed the opinion a corridor to outer Sydney orbital was being considered,” he said. “To then have it left off was even more disappointing.”
