Feds $1bn Western Sydney Rail Commitment Applauded

The “missing link” in Sydney’s rail network will be filled under a $1-billion commitment by the Federal Government revealed today (March 13).

The link would connect Leppington, Bradfield and suburbs in the Macarthur region with the Western Sydney airport, which is due to open next year.

However, the funding is not to build the line but rather to acquire the rail corridor and for planning.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told media the investment would help complete a rail loop around Sydney that would connect the city with the airport.

“We want to make sure as well that we secure future rail corridors, not just between Leppington and Bradfield at the airport, but also between the Bradfield city centre and all those booming suburbs in the Macauthur region,” he said.

The Commonwealth said a timeline for the delivery of the corridor preservation work would be finalised with the NSW Government.

The Federal Government in 2020 funded a $5.25-billion airport Metro line from St Marys to the airport.

It is due to complete next year and includes two new Metro stops, at Orchard Hills and Luddenham.

Its opening is to coincide with the opening of the new airport.

Albanese said a joint federal-state business case was under way to investigate potentially extending that line north of St Marys.

▲ A rendering of Western Sydney Airport, which is due to open next year.

“For so long, Sydney’s always looked towards the Harbour and looked towards the CBD. What this is doing with the airport … is to have Sydney looking outwards as well as inwards,” he told media.

“What you need to do is to link up the north-west, the south-west with the airport, right around into central Sydney as well.

“That's the way that you create a dynamic, vibrant, functioning city where people can work closer to where they live.”

Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive Tom Forrest said the announcement “was both smart and strategic—providing investor certainty for housing and employment growth as well as for the broader community in Sydney’s West”.

“Today’s announcement gives the clearest signal to the property development sector of how the future of Western Sydney will grow—for the first time connected by world-class Metros,” he said.

“The earlier the Government sets these corridors in stone, the better for everyone.

“Key to unlocking housing supply in Sydney’s south-west is a road or public transport link to South Macarthur. 

“That would immediately fast-track over 22,000 homes in an area that has already been re-zoned for housing.

“Locking down key infrastructure corridors is the key to smart planning for growth. 

“Urban Taskforce calls on the Federal Opposition to match or expand on today’s funding commitment to show bi-partisan support for the growth of Western Sydney.”

Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould said the announcement was a “positive next step in getting a much-needed rail connection built for our rapidly growing population, to access the new airport and close the rail loop in south-west Sydney”.

“Wollondilly has been part of a growing chorus of voices calling for an investment into the Metro link, and today’s announcement is a great start to get this project under way.”

In January western Sydney roads won a $1.6-billion upgrade to support about 100,000 potential new homes.

The infrastructure funding included $1 billion to upgrade the link between the new Aerotropolis and Bradfield metropolis to Liverpool, a joint state and federal government project.

The upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue to create a transit corridor is needed to underpin 22,000 vehicle movements a day as well as the 63,000 people expected to move to the area by 2041.