New documents not yet made public reveal why costs are soaring on Sydney’s controversial Iron Cove bridge project.

Sydney architect Michael Morrisey has compiled documents that expose why construction costs have blown out by an estimated $25 million on the beleaguered project in Sydney’s Rozelle.

The 2009 budget estimates the project cost at $175 million, compared to projected $150 million in 2008. This blow out is due to an increase in project scope that includes realigning the bridge piers, providing new parking areas and creating a city-bound bus bay at Cary Street, the documents reveal.

The documents show that while the original contract includes $22 million in consultants’ fees, this rises by 20 per cent to $26 million in the July budgeting.

The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) also signed a detailed building contract with Baulderstone a commencement date of 5 October 2007, despite the proposal not going out to public consultation until December 2007.

The government was lumbered with a bill for $4.76 million in penalties from contractors because the planning approvals were issued after the dates in the contract, the report reveals.

The government claims the $175-million project will speed up traffic on Victoria Road. However, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has warned that the project may be of “dubious benefit” to the public.

“The government should do a rapid U-turn, cancel the project and invest in quality public transport if it wants to get Victoria Road moving,” Rhiannon said.

A submission by Rhiannon pushing for the documents to be made public resulted in a determination by Sir Laurence Street that argues key documents, including the project contract, environmental and heritage reports, and correspondence between the ?public and the Ministry for Transport, should be released in the public interest.

Gemma Battenbough

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