A number of big ticket items were announced for Orange including $38 million for the Guanna Hill realignment on the Mitchell Highway, 21 kilometres north of Orange, $38 million for new pipelines which will finally connect communities like Yeoval to a potable water supply, $7.5 million to commence planning on replacement of the ageing XPT fleet, $1 million to progress the Southern Feeder Road in Orange, and a further $1.3 million for multiple overtaking lanes on the Cargo Road.

There’s also funding for the Molong MPS and new ambulance station. It’s a tremendous boost for the district. 

The $38 million allocated in Tuesday’s Budget for the Guanna Hill realignment is fantastic news for the thousands of freight and livestock operations, local commuters, tourism operators, carravanners, and holiday makers who travel on this road every week. 

For three decades this project languished in the back rooms of successive Roads Ministries.

Those days are over.

The locals thought this day would never come, but it has arrived in the form of a $38 million commitment and I couldn’t be happier. 

This stretch of road is one of the worst black spots in Western NSW with many farmers along the route telling stories about dragging cars out of ditches. 

The Guanna Hill upgrade was to be paid for out of the proceeds of the poles and wires lease, but has now been brought forward with accelerated funding because the project is shovel ready. 

This historic investment will see work commence on straightening and widening the highway, sealing shoulders, building extra overtaking lanes and installing safe right turning bays at the Strathmore Lane and Guanna Hill Lane intersections.

Furthermore, the $7.5 million allocation of funds to commence planning on the replacement of the ageing XPT is an important boost.  

Public transport is an issue very close to the hearts of people west of the Great Divide and I’m delighted to see money on the table to commence this project.