NSW: Bondi rail link in doubt after blowout in costs

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2000
NSW: Bondi rail link in doubt after blowout in costs

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - A plan to extend Sydney's rail system further from Bondi Junction
to Bondi Beach is reportedly in jeopardy after an $80 million blow-out in costs.

State Cabinet last week rejected the controversial project after builders said they
would charge taxpayers for a relocation of the beachside station, according to a report
in The Daily Telegraph today.

The reports said the original forecast budget of $150 million was to include no taxpayers'
money, but after developers bowed to public pressure to move the station away from the
beachside park, the cost has risen to more than $230 million.

The government cost to the project would be more than $30 million, the newspaper said.

According to the report, Cabinet's budget committee has ruled out any taxpayer input,
effectively killing off the project unless the developers can come up with new funding.

AAP as/jnb

KEYWORD: TRAIN BEACH

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.