NSW roads and transport to be spearheaded by new super-agency

11 June 2009

NSW Premier Nathan Rees today announced the most significant reform of the delivery of transport services and infrastructure.

Mr Rees said a new super-agency, NSW Transport and Infrastructure, would take control of all transport and roads coordination, policy and planning functions.

“We need major change in the delivery of transport services in NSW and this new structure will make it happen,” Mr Rees said.

“This is about getting a single direction for transport services and developing a single transport blueprint for NSW.

“It will deliver better coordination of road and public transport services for the community ensuring that infrastructure is built where the greatest need exists.

“Transport is one of the Government’s highest priorities with more than 10% of the State’s budget invested in roads and public transport,” Mr Rees said.

“We are investing more than $3.5 billion in transport infrastructure this year alone and this new structure will ensure that taxpayers get the best value for money.

“These changes will provide better services to the people of NSW.”

Mr Rees said that the agency will be the single contact point for Government when it comes to transport and roads in NSW.

“The days of Government agencies operating as independent silos are over.”

NSW Transport and Infrastructure will take the lead on all policy and planning functions of the Ministry of Transport, RailCorp, Roads and Traffic Authority, State Transit Authority, Sydney Ferries, the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation and Waterways.

Mr Rees said the agency would be responsible for the following functions:

• Transport coordination
• Transport services
• Transport infrastructure and asset management; and
• Transport policy and planning and budget funding submissions.

Minister for Transport David Campbell said that the Government has appointed Mr Les Wielinga as the acting Director General of NSW Transport and Infrastructure.

For the new department and its Director General, there will be three immediate priorities:

• Implementing these reforms
• Implementing service improvements across all transport modes; and
• Developing with the Department of Planning a Transport Blueprint that integrates urban growth and transport delivery.

“The new arrangements will provide administrative efficiencies allowing a greater focus on frontline services.

“The creation of NSW Transport and Infrastructure builds on the Government’s earlier announcement that RailCorp and Sydney Ferries would no longer be corporations.”

Work on the legislative changes required to facilitate this new transport governance model will begin today.

Premier Rees said he wanted the change to happen as soon as possible, so an implementation team would be put in place by the Minister for Transport in coming days.

This streamlined transport structure will result in improved public transport services through:

• Delivering integrated transport planning and service delivery; and
• Consolidation of like-functions (planning, budgeting, corporate services) to reduce recurrent costs and provide additional funds for frontline staff and transport services.