![\"NSW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/62e52af39c0c87c69753073116a67009.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nNSW Premier Chris Minns says he does not know whether the troubled M6 motorway will be opened during his premiership, as the government threatens legal action against the contractor.<\/p>\n
Tunnelling on the $3.1 billion link between the M8 at Arncliffe and President Avenue, Kogarah, was halted in 2024 after massive sinkholes emerged.<\/p>\n
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) said an engineering solution had now been found, but the government remained in dispute with the joint-venture contractor, CGU, over the cost of the revised project.<\/p>\n
The delivery date has already been delayed until 2028 and on Tuesday, Mr Minns could not say whether the M6 would open while he remained premier.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know,” he told reporters.<\/p>\n
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Chris Minns says contractor CGU has to “make good” on finishing the project. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)<\/p>\n
“It’d be nice to have, but I don’t think too many people are saying what Sydney needs is another toll road.”<\/p>\n
On Monday, TfNSW issued a default notice to CGU, demanding the contractor resume work on the tunnels by May 1, or risk potential legal action.<\/p>\n
The premier said as part of the contract, CGU had taken on the risks of the design and construction, so it was responsible for finishing the project.<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry it hasn’t worked out, but at the end of the day, they have to make good on it,” he said.<\/p>\n
“They’re a big international infrastructure company [and] they signed a deal with the New South Wales government.<\/p>\n
“I promise you, if they came in under budget, they wouldn’t be sending us a check back, so they’re going to have to step up.”<\/p>\n
Budget also in doubt<\/p>\n
During a budget estimates hearing in parliament on Tuesday, Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison declined to give a timeframe for the project’s completion.<\/p>\n
“Will it be 2027? 2028? 2029?” Shadow Infrastructure Minister Natalie Ward asked.<\/p>\n
“I’m not going to hypothesise about what the opening date will be, considering where we are in this process,” Ms Aitchison replied.<\/p>\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2d54ebd012c4f28df2431461c50128ad.jpeg\")
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Jenny Aitchison will not put a date on when it will be finished when asked. (ABC News: Romy Stephens)<\/p>\n
The minister said the budget remained at $3.1 billion, but would not say whether the government would consider tipping in more cash to progress the project.<\/p>\n
“Does that mean the government is prepared to let the project collapse, effectively letting a $3.1 billion project turn into a white elephant?” Ms Ward asked.<\/p>\n
“It is subject to legal discussions and negotiations,” Ms Aitchison replied.<\/p>\n
“And I will not prejudice those [negotiations] with comments made here to satisfy your scaremongering.”<\/p>\n
$5 million in legal fees<\/p>\n
The hearing was told the government had already spent $5 million on external legal advice during its dispute with CGU.<\/p>\n
Shadow Roads Minister Mark Coure said it was unacceptable that the road project had been “stuck in neutral” for so long.<\/p>\n
“The government’s had two years to get this project going again,” Mr Coure told 702 ABC Sydney<\/a>.<\/p>\n “What we’ve learned in budget estimates is they’ve spent $5 million on legal fees in that time.<\/p>\n “That’s $5 million \u2026 that can fix a lot of potholes across Sydney and across New South Wales.”<\/p>\n Transport secretary Josh Murray said the agency had brought in additional engineering support to find a solution to the stalled tunnelling project.<\/p>\n Josh Murray says additional engineering support has been brought in. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)<\/p>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/c0f3a323c7b79a01cbebf6205391b63a.jpeg\")
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