While the extension of the Sydney Metro to Leppington is a sensible move, there is a lot more work needed to prepare Sydney for the Western Sydney International Airport, says Anne Stanley.
“The extension of the Leppington line to link both airports, as part of an integrated public transport strategy for South West Sydney, has been a priority for Labor for years,’’ said the Federal Member for Werriwa in response to metro plans being brought forward by the federal government.
“While this announcement is definitely welcome, extending the Leppington line won’t have much impact until other issues are also addressed, such as the proposal to truck fuel to Western Sydney airport – rather than building a pipeline,” Ms Stanley said.
Modelling for the airport reveals that without building a pipeline between local ports and Western Sydney International Airport, 65 additional heavy trucks a day will be on local roads to keep up with fuel demand at the airport.
“Supporting Liverpool Council’s proposal to build the Fifteenth Avenue fast transit corridor must be a priority,” she said.
“Such a project will deliver the Western Sydney City Deal commitment for a rapid bus service and provide ongoing employment opportunities for local workers.
Ms Stanley has called on the state and federal governments to get to work on the planning and building of infrastructure the airport needs.
“Instead of announcements our community needs the necessary rail, roads and infrastructure to be built,’’ she said.
“Creating local transport connections to support local jobs, fixing congestion with road upgrades, and ensuring local infrastructure such as car parks can keep up with demand, should be the key priorities.
“It’s just good business,” she said
“Labor has been advocating for proper planning for years and it’s time the government got on board.’’
