NSW: New Sydney rail link's cost goes up $250 million

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2006
NSW: New Sydney rail link's cost goes up $250 million

SYDNEY, Aug 11 AAP - Taxpayers will have to pour another $250 million into Sydney's
new Epping to Chatswood rail link after a new cost blowout.

The sum is more than 10 per cent of the project's original $2 billion price tag, The
Daily Telegraph reports today.

The NSW state government has blamed commodity prices and additional sound-proofing
for the added cost to the northern Sydney link.

The link was scheduled to open next year but is now likely to open in 2008, the paper said.

State Treasurer Michael Costa had already announced in June that the government would
have to pour in additional funds to the tune of $351 million.

The latest blowout adds to a NSW budget deficit forecast to reach $696 million this year.

The state government plans to borrow the money from a swelling infrastructure program
which is set to reach $10 billion this year, the paper said.

AAP cmc/goc/

KEYWORD: RAIL

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