Government Study Confirms North-South Rail Ideal City Shaper

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), the peak body representing councils in Greater Western Sydney, has welcomed the release of a previously confidential report commissioned by the government charting a path for building rail projects over the next two decades.

The report outlines an “ideal assumption” of up to $4 billion a year in capital spending, adding that rail corridors in the city’s west offered the strongest housing, transport and economic development options.

The report examines options for future rail projects after the most current round of metro lines committed by the government is completed.

Under one scenario, the report proposes extending the Western Sydney Airport metro line further south from the new city of Bradfield to “Bradfield South” by 2032 as well as an extension of the heavy rail line from Leppington to “Bradfield South” by 2033.

If the plans are realised, they would be followed by a northern extension of the airport metro line from St Marys to Schofields by 2037, and onto Tallawong by 2039.

The report also envisages an extension of the airport line from Bradfield South to Oran Park by 2047 at a cost of $5.1 billion.

This backs an earlier study commissioned by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), prepared by eminent civil engineer and transportation analyst, Professor David Levinson from the University of Sydney, urging government to take greater advantage of future transport hub opportunities in Greater Western Sydney — notably with a rail extension through to the new international airport at Badgerys Creek.

“Since the 1990s, WSROC has been advocating for a north-south rail link to connect communities within Western Sydney and allow better access to the region’s jobs,” WSROC President, Councillor Barry Calvert said.

“The need for a rail link is becoming more pressing with unprecedented growth in the region, and an extra one million people expected to live in Western Sydney by 2036 and a doubling of the population to 4.1 million by 2041.

“Successful global cities deliver city-shaping transport with integrated city planning outcomes.

“To ensure that we get it right in NSW requires a new approach to business cases, where accessibility to jobs, schools, hospitals and amenities is planned at the same time as the rail.

“If we support transit-oriented development we can create great places, which maximise walkability from homes to railway stations.

“When complete, a -south rail link would connect Schofields in the north with Campbelltown and Liverpool in the south, serving both established and new communities in the growth corridors in between.

“By 2036, more than the north half of Sydney’s population will live west of Parramatta.

“The north-south link will transform intra-regional connection and open access to opportunities - such as affordable housing and jobs associated with the aerotropolis development.

“Such a crucial rail link would be a key piece in connecting the planning vision for the growing region’s current and future liveability.

“One of the biggest challenges for Sydney is the struggle to retrofit transport corridors, after the demand for services has already exceeded existing infrastructure.

“Western Sydney’s story is already one of road dependence. A daily exodus of more than 300,000 residents endures Greater Sydney’s longest commute, mostly by car.

“By 2036, with an extra one million residents this number will have increased to over 400,000.

“Any failure to prioritise a north-south rail link is a failure to provide better liveability outcomes for those transport-disadvantaged communities that stretch from the Hawkesbury to Campbelltown.

“This latest study confirms what WSROC has been saying for over 30 years.

“If we do not have a holistic approach to transport planning with integrated land use planning based on accessibility, we will erode Sydney’s global competitiveness for housing affordability, cost of living and liveability.

“If we want to address the housing shortage and improve affordability, we will need to significantly boost new dwelling commencements and momentum in both the apartment and greenfield supply pipelines, with transport and land use planning integrated,” said Councillor Calvert.

• Topics:

• Transport
• Public Works