Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould has joined the chorus of criticism of NSW Premier Chris Minns over infrastructure funding in outer South Westen Sydney.
Yesterday Mr Minns was taken to task by a Labor colleague, Dr Mike Freelander, for his comment that construction of the Macarthur metro rail extension to the new airport would need a miracle to happen.
Mayor Gould says that although additional funding will be required, he believes the Premier is able to deliver the miracle of a metro rail line for the residents of this fast-growing region.
“It is great to see Premier focused on our region, and I fully understand that there are financial constraints when it comes to building this sort of public transport infrastructure,’’ Mayor Gould said.
“Whether or not it takes a miracle, this is something that can and should be done. We are not asking the government to build the Macarthur metro extension straight away – we are realistic, but we want a commitment that this is the next metro line to be built.
“Thanks to the hard work of premier Minns and treasurer Mookhey the NSW Budget is in much better shape and the forward estimates show there will be room for major capital investment in a few years’ time.
It’s critical the Macarthur Metro is the first metro/rail project the government commits to fund and deliver when the budget enables investment.
“We are calling on the premier to be clear with the federal government that this is the next priority, as well as the critically important Leppington to Bradfield connection, and for the Federal Government help fund it.
“The Federal Government should also provide a fair share of the GST to NSW so it can fund critical infrastructure to support growth in South West Sydney.”
Mayor Gould said there was an urgent need to connect the people of the Macarthur and Wollondilly areas to the new Western Sydney Airport and the jobs and economic opportunities available there.
“As part of the NSW Government-led growth area our region is providing significant housing to address the current housing crisis, but the people moving in here deserve to be connected by reliable public transport to health, education and the new airport,” he said.
“At the moment it is considerably faster for our residents to travel by train to Sydney Airport than it will be to catch buses from Campbelltown to Bradfield.
“The residents of the Wollondilly Shire already rely heavily on cars to get around, and with significant growth upon us it is time that public transport connections for this region are prioritised.”
NSW Labor has absolutely no plans for any metro, light rail extensions or fast rail to regional centres. You’re halfway through your term and have planned no new transport projects. I fear this is just another do-nothing Bob Carr government.
Nick, please supply your surname, thank you.
When I was a kid (some time ago now) as a Boy Scout we would change trains at Campbelltown and get on the next train to Camden. Rail link was the steepest in Australia at that time but was for us the best way to get to Camden.