Strategic assessment approved for NSW roads regulation

Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, has announced the approval of a strategic assessment for small scale roads and traffic works.

"The approval of this strategic assessment will improve the efficiency of road upgrades in NSW, but most importantly we have done this while maintaining high environmental standards," Hunt said.

"We are demonstrating to the community that the Australian government is serious about reducing red tape and we are serious about protecting the environment."

In effect, the assessment will allow the NSW government to produce critical road improvements without Australian government approval.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, John Gay, said there was unnecessary duplication in the approvals required for some road and traffic management activities.

"The activities covered by this decision are smaller-scale projects that are not of state significance such as new overtaking lanes for existing roads, short sections of new road, bridge replacement projects and a range of routine maintenance and safety works," Gay said.

"This great cooperation between the two tiers of government will save the time and cost previously spent on multiple approvals and removes unproductive red tape from both governments.”

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