But, she added, expecting the community to wait another five years for the project was appalling.

Mrs Watts said she worried that people’s lives were at risk until the bypass and rail overpass were in place. 

“The community are frustrated that the process is taking so long,” she said.

“It’s good news that the decision has been made on the option, but the state government has already taken longer than reasonable and people are cynical about how long it will be until we finally have safe access across the rail.

“Announcing that the government will commit their money by 2019 is just insulting to this community. 

“For everyday it takes to build the bypass and rail overpass it is a day local lives are at risk when emergency vehicles are delayed.

“They have no problem dedicating money to upgrade the rail lines so that the trains can get longer and we have more of them, but the people of Scone are kept waiting for five more years.”

Mrs Watts said there was also concern about the rail overpass being built and the need for the project to come in on budget to provide the rail bridge. 

“The people of Scone have waited too long and there is no good reason for this project to keep dragging out, just so that the government can allocate the money in another budget period,” she said.

“The Labor federal government gave the money for this project years ago and the state government is now years overdue to get this done.”