A report from the NSW Audit Office has raised concerns about the management of a $334 million regional roads fund promised by NSW Labor ahead of the last state election. Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison has defended her decision to accelerate a $50 million bridge project in Thornton, a suburb in Maitland located near her own home. The minister stated she makes “no apologies” for directing Transport for NSW officials to fast-track the initiative to build a new bridge over a railway line. The project’s budget has reportedly more than tripled since its initial planning. According to the audit, the project lacked a completed business case at the time of the acceleration request. The bridge is situated a short drive from Minister Aitchison’s residence, where she and her husband, former Maitland councillor Robert Aitchison, maintain a self-managed super fund listed as a “property leasing” partnership on her public disclosures. The audit has highlighted broader issues in how the fund was allocated and prioritised under the current government. This situation has sparked questions about potential conflicts of interest and the transparency of infrastructure decision-making in New South Wales. Minister Aitchison maintains the project addresses important local needs, while critics point to the lack of proper documentation and the significant cost escalation as signs of rushed governance. The story underscores ongoing debates about accountability in state-level infrastructure spending and the influence of local connections on public funding priorities.