Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Docs reveal another WestConnex blowout

The cost of the Sydney Gateway extension of the major WestConnex road project could blow out by up to $1 billion, leaked documents suggest.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian
Sydney's WestConnex road project could blow out by up to $1 billion, leaked documents suggest. (AAP)

Leaked NSW government documents suggest the cost of a major WestConnex extension could blow out by as much as $1 billion.

The documents, from April, list the estimated total cost of the "WestConnex Sydney Gateway" as being between $1 billion and $1.8 billion, despite an initial estimate of just $800 million.

The cost of the entire WestConnex project was revised to $16.8 billion in late 2015 - $6.8 billion more than first estimated.

The government argues the Sydney Gateway is not part of the WestConnex project despite information of the extension featuring prominently on the WestConnex website.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday said the Gateway project, which will extend the road to the airport and Port Botany, was never part of WestConnex.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"Obviously it feeds into the project, but it's not part of the project, it never was and we've been very clear about that," she told reporters.

But information on the WestConnex website says the project will "provide a connection to Sydney Airport and Port Botany via Sydney Gateway".


1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world