He said the Delta lockdown had caused “significant disruptions” to the state’s $108 billion infrastructure pipeline,which would inevitably impact project costs.
“Our early estimates are that it could cost the state around $500 million,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW Treasury is working with clusters across government to determine an accurate estimation of the costs to projects but,given the sheer number of projects,it’s obviously going to be significant.”
Sydney’s construction industry was put on ice for two weeks in late July as the city battled to contain the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain. Since then,it has operated at 50 per cent capacity,with those restrictions set to be lifted on Monday.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said while time lost to the 2021 lockdown and construction restrictions could be made up on some of the state’s flagship infrastructure projects,timelines on others could be affected.
“In many cases there are ways to catch up,but we’re working in a global environment so we are going to see disruption to some things there is no doubt because of the way in which the international supply chains go,” Mr Constance said.
Major construction is still underway on the government’s mammoth metro rail projects across western and south-western Sydney,while road headers are also continuing to churn beneath inner Sydney on the state’s signature WestConnex motorway.