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The network chairman has been advocating for the Blue Mountains tunnel since it was first proposed by urban futurists in 2018.
“There were naysayers when I suggested a tunnel would be a great way to ease congestion on the Great Western Highway. So, I am really pleased for the communities in the Blue Mountains and beyond that this significant infrastructure project is going ahead,” Mr Raine said in a statement.
Acknowledging back in 2018 that the proposal might seem “absurd” to some people, Mr Raine was “delighted and vindicated” by the recent news, according to the network.
His comments come on the heels of the NSW government’s announcement that it would move forward with the 11-kilometre, toll-free tunnel from Blackheath to Little Hartley – which will be the longest road tunnel in the country upon its completion.
With work expected to start in 2023, the tunnel is part of a $4.5 billion upgrade to the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow, which is expected to save motorists up to 30 minutes during busy periods.
Mr Raine applauded the infrastructure spend, stating that projects such as this ultimately help alleviate the housing affordability issues of densely populated areas such as Sydney, because they promote regional living.
“Faster commute times will enable even more Sydneysiders to shift to the regional centres across the Great Dividing Range, which will help take some of the heat away from Western Sydney’s affordability issues,” Mr Raine said.
He also noted the flow-on effect it would have for property prices in the mountains.
“Whether it’s a record-long tunnel or a fast train, quality infrastructure such as the Blue Mountains Tunnel can underpin long-term property prices in regional centres such as Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange and Mudgee by as much as 5 to 10 per cent when it becomes a reality,” Mr Raine said.
Leura local Brenton Ebzery, principal and director of Raine & Horne’s outfit in the Blue Mountains town, agreed that the construction would be a boon for his community. He also noted that such improvements were overdue, and the minimum needed to address the area’s traffic issues.
“I hope that down the track the government may consider extending this tunnel so that it starts from West Katoomba where there are major issues with traffic congestion and safety,” Mr Ebzery said.
“This is a fantastic improvement that has been a long-time coming and I hope our local government authorities get behind it.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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