with Susan Templeman MP Federal Member for Macquarie
There are exciting things coming to the Hawkesbury for air enthusiasts and road users.
Let’ s start with our skies- I’ m so delighted that the Hawkesbury will celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the Richmond RAAF Base with an Airshow this September.
This two-day event will feature plenty of interesting activities in the air including the F-35A Lightning II, F / A-18F Super Hornet, Roulettes Aerobatic Team, C-17A Globemaster, C-130J Hercules, C-27 Spartan, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, E-7A Wedgetail, P-8 Poseidon, and 100SQN Heritage aircraft.
And there’ ll be lots to do on Base, which is home to the workhorses of
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the RAAF fleet, the C130J Hercules of No 37 Squadron. We’ re expanding that fleet in coming years with a $ 9.8 billion investment for 20 new Hercs, so Richmond will continue to be a vital Defence site.
The Airshow will take place over the weekend of 27 and 28 September 2025. For more details see https:// www. airforce. gov. au / news-events / events / raafrichmond-airshow-2025 And now to our roads. In our first term of government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $ 100 million to fund safety upgrades to the Bells Line of Road. This road is not only a vital local road for residents, but also carries through traffic – and has to be safe for both.
The work on the upgrades is entering its next phase, with Transport for NSW
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awarding civil engineering specialist firm Civil Consulting and Highway Design( CCHD) Pty Ltd the tender to investigate and identify strategic upgrade options.
A range of improvements are being considered including new overtaking lanes, realigning curves, installing safety barriers and intersection upgrades.
Participating councils and other targeted stakeholders will be thoroughly consulted to ensure that there is a complete understanding of local priorities, plans and options to provide a safer, more resilient and reliable transport network for all road users.
I’ ve already passed onto the department a range of suggestions made by residents when the funding was announced, including consideration of wildlife that crosses the road. The wider community will be consulted on a
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proposed shortlist of projects, by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Transport for NSW needs to do further investigations on-site throughout July and August as the planning for the New Richmond Bridge project progresses.
Investigation work will involve digging and drilling holes to check ground conditions and utilities, so don’ t be surprised to see activity in the area. This Federal and State-funded project will see a new four lane bridge and road approaches high enough to stay open in our most frequent floods.
And finally, early work on the NSW government’ s Pitt Town Bypass is continuing throughout July weather permitting – another exciting road project being delivered by Labor governments.
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