MINNS GOVERNMENT FAILED TO COMPLETE BUSINESS CASE BEFORE BLAMING COMMONWEALTH FOR WILCANNIA WEIR COLLAPSE

The Minns Labor Government failed to complete a business case for the Wilcannia Weir project before approaching the Commonwealth for funding, despite now blaming the Federal Government for the project’s collapse.

Last week, NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson confirmed the long-awaited project would be shelved, citing a lack of additional Commonwealth funding.

However, during Budget Estimates on Wednesday, the Minister admitted that the business case required to support the funding application had not been completed and that work on it would now also be shelved.

Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke said it was unacceptable to shift blame when the essential groundwork to secure funding had not been done.

“You cannot expect the Commonwealth to commit significant funding to a major infrastructure project without a completed business case,” Ms Cooke said.

“This Government has had three years to finalise the documentation required to support this project, yet it failed to do so.”

The Wilcannia Weir project is critical infrastructure for the local community, with long-term implications for water security, economic activity and community confidence.

Ms Cooke said shelving both the project and the business case only pushes the proposal further out of reach.

She has called on the Minns Labor Government to immediately complete the business case and re-engage with the Commonwealth to secure the funding necessary to deliver the project.

“The longer this work is delayed, the more expensive the project will become and the harder it will be to deliver,” Ms Cooke said.

“The people of Wilcannia deserve leadership that does the hard work required to secure funding, not excuses after the fact. Completing the business case is the first and most essential step toward getting this project back on track.”