The State Budget has allocated $20 million to stage one of the Main Western Rail Line Capacity Enhancements in Lithgow for 2019-20.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A commitment of $11,827,000 has also been made for improvements to Bells Line of Road (Chifley Road) with a finish date of 2021.
More good news came for Lithgow and Bathurst residents with the announcement of an additional NSW TrainLink train service to and from Sydney which will start later this year, according to Bathurst MP, Paul Toole.
There were no big spends directly for Lithgow in Tuesday's State Budget and president of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), Cr Barry Calvert said that local councils have generally "been left high and dry".
"We have been struck with last minute Emergency Services Levy increases; and in the context of rate-capping are struggling to keep up with delivering services needed by our growing communities," he said.
"This Budget offers no support for councils facing increases to the Emergency Services Levy, despite the significant impact this will have on council budgets. In the context of a $1 billion surplus, this is disgraceful. It is not local government's role to fund the NSW Government's budget surpluses. There are limits to what local governments can afford."
Cr Calvert said it wasn't all bad though.
"It's pleasing to see is the Government's commitment to duplicating the Great Western Highway between Lithgow and Katoomba; linking the industries of the Central West with the growing Western Sydney region," he said.
"WSROC looks forward to working with the NSW Government to deliver more liveable, sustainable Western Sydney communities, however councils must be equal partners in the process. Priorities such as waste management and community planning require a coordinated response from all levels of government and demand a proportional level of investment."
Lithgow families will also see more benefits with the Active Kids program being given $291.1 million over four years for expansion, with youngsters participating in organised sport now given two $100 vouchers a year instead of one.
Travellers who use the gold Opal card will now be capped at $2.50 a day for the next four years and the Regional Seniors Transport Card will provide $250 per year in fuel, taxis or train tickets for pensioners in regional areas.
A new Senior Savers Card will be available to anyone over 60, offering discounts on a range of products and services.
The daily Bathurst Bullet express service which will commence later in 2019 will leave Bathurst in the morning for Sydney, stopping via Lithgow, and returns in the evening.
"People love the Bullet for being a fast, comfortable way to take a day trip to Sydney," Mr Toole said.
"But leaving at 5.46am and getting back at 9.32pm is not convenient for everyone. This new service doubles the options, making the journey more appealing to more people."
On weekdays, the new service will depart Bathurst around 7.30am, enabling those who don't want to leave in the very early morning to still have a direct service to Sydney. The afternoon return service, leaving around 3pm and arriving in Bathurst before 7pm in the evening, will be attractive for those who need to be home earlier, in time for family and social commitments.
This additional service will operate seven days a week. On weekends, the new Bathurst to Sydney service will operate at a similar time to the existing weekday service and, in the afternoon will return at a similar time to the new weekday service.
"We have based this decision on both feedback from the local communities and an analysis of travel patterns," Mr Toole said.
Additionally, the new train service will be stopping at both Tarana and Rydal. Further details on specific service times will be released later in 2019.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Lithgow Mercury. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.