The NSW Government has announced in its latest budget that $128.5 million will be allocated to road upgrades and supports the transportation of renewable projects state-wide.
The funding will support road improvements from Newcastle to Dubbo and surrounding areas, as well as preliminary planning for a logistics precinct at the Port of Newcastle.
According to the State Government, it will build better communities in NSW by ensuring the necessary roads, infrastructure, and affordable renewable energy are in place.
The road upgrades will enable the transportation of critical components required for the construction of new renewable infrastructure from the Port of Newcastle to the Renewable Energy Zones via the existing road network.
These components include wind turbine blades, batteries, and transformers. The initial upgrades will prioritise the route from the Port of Newcastle to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone near Dubbo, with a portion of the route also serving the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
Individual developers will need to ensure that vehicle movements can be accommodated on any additional local roads leading to their project sites.
NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe, said the investment is a win-win.
“$128.5 million in the 2024-25 Budget will not only improve the roads we drive on, but also ensure the construction of more renewable energy projects which will drive down power bills,” she said.
“To build solar and wind farms and our new transmission network, we’ll need trucks to carry their components to sites. Upgrading the roads ensures delivery can happen quickly and safely.”
NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the Hunter region is central to the transformation of NSW’s energy system.
“Investments like these will ensure our region continues to prosper into the future,” she said.
“Port to Project will upgrade our road network, making it safer for all drivers, and create a logistics hub at Newcastle Port.”
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