Members of the Bells Line Expressway Group were shattered to learn there had been no provision made for the preservation of a corridor through the Blue Mountains for at least 15 years, however they have vowed to fight on.
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Chair of the group Ian Armstrong said there were no words to express how disappointed and angry he was when he read the Infrastructure Australia Plan and Priority List only to discover the Bells Line did not rate a mention.
Mr Armstrong has been leading the fight to secure a Bells Line Expressway between Sydney and the Central West for the past 10 years.
He said he was most disappointed and also concerned that the federal government's advisory body didn't have the capacity to recognise the benefit to communities at both ends of the proposed corridor.
"But I don't accept that was our last chance," Mr Armstrong said
"There's always a chance if you keep working at it.
"We will be taking every opportunity. It's all about lobbying the state and federal governments.
"Let's not forget - governments can change," Mr Armstrong said.
He said Infrastructure Australia was primarily focused on the metropolitan areas and does not understand that metropolitan areas are increasingly relying on regional areas for food.
"Regional areas are responsible for feeding much of Sydney's population," Mr Armstrong said.
"More than 430 tonnes of lamb goes to Sydney every night and we send milk as well.
"Sydney depends on the regions for its tucker.
"There is no land left down there to grow anything, so more and more they are relying on regional areas to deliver good quality food, and we have a responsibility to fill that need," he said.
He said a Bells Line Expressway would also boost tourism.
Mr Armstrong said this area has a lot to offer. Motor racing, good food and wine and country shows are all huge drawcards.
Also attending yesterday's meeting of the Bells Line Expressway Group was CENTROC Chair Councillor Bill West.
He said CENTROC continues to lobby senior politicians hard.
"Because of the amount of development about to take place we need to preserve the corridor," he said.
Cr West also said failing to make the priority list was very disappointing, particularly in light of the conversations CENTROC had prior to its release.
"We formed the opinion a corridor to outer Sydney orbital was being considered," Cr West said.
"To then have it left off was even more disappointing. It's now even more important to continue to pursue this.
"Freight infrastructure is an integral part of regional development.
"It is also important to ease urban congestion in the metropolitan areas.
"CENTROC will continue to lobby state politicians to raise this issue at a federal level and seek community support because the community has an important role to play in keeping it on the agenda.
"The frustrating thing with the Infrastructure Australia report is it makes such strong mention of urban congestion without looking at major freight and transport.
"If you only build infrastructure that caters for today's needs you will only have to do it again in five years time," Cr Wilson said.
