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The remaining two lane sections of Camden Valley Way between Narellan Road and the M5/M7 interchange will be upgraded by the end of 2016, completing the upgrade of the entire 25 kilometre length to four lanes, NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O'Farrell and Minister for Roads Duncan Gay announced today.
Completing the Camden Valley Way upgrade goes beyond a NSW Liberals & Nationals' election commitment to prioritise the road. The upgrade is expected to be completed around the same time as the opening of the South West Rail Link.
“The upgrade of Camden Valley Way is a vital piece of road infrastructure for the people of South West Sydney," Mr O'Farrell said.
“Along with the South West Rail Link and the widening of the M5 West, the NSW Government is delivering much needed infrastructure to support this region's growing population.
“The NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering infrastructure to support housing growth in South West Sydney - today's announcement gives certainty to residents, the families planning to move here, as well as the new housing construction sector."
Mr Gay said the NSW Government was delighted to put a timeframe on the completion of the upgrade.
“Camden Valley Way is a major arterial road linking the Hume Highway and the M7 and M5 interchange at Prestons, near Liverpool, with the historic town of Camden," Mr Gay said.
“The road will be the primary route for residents of the South West Growth Centre, linking them to Camden, Narellan, Liverpool, the M7 and the M5.
“Combined with the South West Rail Link the upgraded road will deliver significant accessibility improvements to the residents and businesses of this important region of Sydney."
Planning Minister Brad Hazzard said the upgrade demonstrated the Government's commitment to ensuring new land release in Sydney's west will be supported by timely investment in infrastructure.
“The Departments of Planning and Roads and Maritime Services are working together to deliver a coordinated approach to growth, to provide certainty for investors and residents of Western Sydney," Mr Hazzard said.
Member for Camden, Chris Patterson, said the upgrade had been a long-awaited for residents and businesses in the region.
“I am delighted the NSW Government has put an end to the uncertainty which existed under Labor, which had never committed to a timeframe for the road's completion," Mr Patterson said.
“This is great news for residents and will be a shot in the arm for the region's economy."
The upgrade is being delivered in four sections, two of which have already been completed, with the third section to be completed this year and the final section to be delivered in three stages by the 2016 deadline.
The section of upgrade between the M5/M7 interchange and Bernera Road was completed in 2005 and the second section between Bernera Road and Cowpasture Road opened to traffic in July 2011. Work is progressing on the third section, between Narellan and Cobbitty Roads, which is expected to be completed around June this year, weather permitting.
The final section is more than 10 kilometres long and runs between Cowpasture Road and Oran Park Drive.
The commitment to complete the upgrade in 2016 comes with the call for tenders for the first stage of the final section, between south of Denham Court Road and south of Raby Road at Catherine Field. Tenders are invited from pre-qualified contractors to upgrade this 4.4 kilometre length.
The project will feature upgraded intersections with traffic lights at Raby, St Andrews and Heath roads and will involve significant earthwork and drainage work, relocating utilities and laying a new road surface.
Tenders close late February 2012 and the contract is expected to be awarded in mid- 2012. Completion of this section of the Camden Valley Way upgrade is scheduled for early 2015, weather permitting.
The two remaining stages of Camden Valley Way to be upgraded to four lanes are to the south and north of the stage being tendered and have a total length of 6.2 kilometres. Tenders to build these stages are expected to be called in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The land required for these stages is being progressively acquired.
Masters makes first inroads on Bunnings' territory
Eli Greenblat
October 21, 2011
THE Wesfarmers chief executive, Richard Goyder, has revealed that two Bunnings hardware outlets recorded an immediate drop in sales when Woolworths opened its maiden Masters big-box hardware store nearby.
The admission that Masters, which opened its first hardware site in August, has in its opening weeks peeled customers away from industry heavyweight Bunnings will no doubt embolden arch rival Woolworths as it seeks to open as many as 150 Masters stores nationwide.
Mr Goyder said it was too early to gauge the sales impact on Bunnings stores located near four Masters stores recently opened in Queensland. But he confirmed there had been a sales drop for the group following the opening of the Masters hardware site in Braybrook, in Melbourne's inner-west.
Advertisement: Story continues below 'There has been some impact on the two stores next to Braybrook, sort of in line with our expectations - you would expect some impact,' Mr Goyder said.
He declined to detail Wesfarmers' initial expectations of the potential drop in sales for a Bunnings located near a new Masters store.
'I'm not going to go into that, but when we open a new store [Bunnings] we know it's going to impact our adjoining stores and we have a pretty good idea on that.
'[But] it's way, way to early to assess any impact from Masters stores on the business at the moment.'
Masters recently opened four stores in Queensland (Springfield, Tingalpa, Nerang and Morayfield). Stores in Burnside in Victoria, and Gregory Hills in NSW are slated to open before Christmas...Read More