An evaluation by Infrastructure Australia of the metro rail link between Western Sydney Airport and St Marys found there was insufficient evidence that the economic, social and environmental benefits of the project would justify its costs.
“Based on the business case and evidence available, Infrastructure Australia has not included the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project on the Infrastructure Priority List at this time,’’ it said in a report following the evaluation.
In response, the federal member for Macarthur, Dr Freelander, has hit out on the decision to “pork barrel taxpayers’ money into the North-West component of this link against advice, while ignoring the South-West’’.
“We are effectively being governed by property developers,’’ Dr Freelander said.
“Revelations that the St Mary’s to Western Sydney Airport rail link will deliver limited economic, social and environmental benefits are nothing short of concerning.
“The independent peak body’s findings, namely that there is no business case for the northern rail link, directly contradict claims made by the government and developers alike.
“The Government ought to finally commit to completing the critical southern component of this rail link.
“There is a much better business case to support this link, with the corridor already preserved and our region’s population rapidly expanding,’’ Dr Freelander said.
“This heavy rail link to Leppington is critical not only to service our growing suburbs, but to ensure the new airport is appropriately linked to the existing Sydney Airport and Moorebank Intermodal.’’
The metro link to St Marys is part of the 2018 Western Sydney City Deal, a 20-year partnership between the Australian Government, NSW Government, and eight local governments to develop a new city with the new airport at its heart.
The Western Parkland City would stretch from Wollondilly in the south to Blacktown in the north.
The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project is a proposed 23-kilometre, turn-up-and-go, driverless metro rail service. It would include six new metro stations between St Marys and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis at Bringelly, with trains running every five minutes in the peak and future capacity of one train every two minutes.
Passengers from the Airport Terminal would be able to board the metro and interchange at St Marys to reach Parramatta in about 38 minutes, or the Sydney CBD in 70 minutes
“Infrastructure Australia recognises the need to provide public transport access to the new Western Sydney International Airport and the Western Parkland City,’’ the Infrastructure Australia report said.
“However, the proponent’s business case does not provide sufficient evidence that the proposed project is the best solution.’’
