Opening an international airport without any rail infrastructure in an area of Sydney already bursting at the seams from road congestion is beyond belief, says Anne Stanley.
The Werriwa MP has joined forces with fellow Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander to express concern there could be a three year delay in having a rail line connected to Western Sydney Airport when it opens in 2026.
“The idea that this project will be delayed by three years is simply unacceptable,’’ says Dr Freelander.
“Without a rail link, my community will not be able to access the opportunities provided by the creation of the Airport and Aerotropolis, and the pressure on our already overburdened local roads will only increase.
“The State and Federal Coalition Governments have failed to allocate any funding to ensure the South West rail link becomes a reality.
“If the Coalition was as serious about infrastructure as they claim to be, this vital project would have been appropriately funded through the government’s heavily politicised Cities Deal long ago,” Dr Freelander said.
Labor has promised that if elected t will build the rail link, both from Macarthur to Badgerys Creek and north to St Marys.
Currently the planning allows for only the northern part of the rail link to be in place by 2026.
The southern link, from the new airport to the Macarthur region, is merely under investigation at this stage.
If there is a delay it would in reality affect both the St Marys rail link and the Macarthur region one.
Ms Stanley says that while the Coalition Governments in Canberra and Sydney neglect Western Sydney, she and Dr Freelander will continue to fight to ensure that the rail link becomes a reality.
“This delay is endemic of these governments that have touted themselves as infrastructure builders however they have consistently blown out the budgets and timelines on their big ticket items,’’ she said.
“With no fuel pipeline, which will add hundreds of trucks to the roads, and now no rail infrastructure when the airport kicks off, this is a planning catastrophe.
“Now is the last time for the Federal and NSW Coalition Governments to fix it,” she said.
