Pressure on the federal and state governments to build a rail connection to the Badgerys Creek airport when it opens has paid off.
The two governments have now agreed to look at the possibility of rail to the western Sydney airport from day one.
At this stage they have pledged only to look at rail options both for the new airport and the needs of the booming growth areas of west and south west Sydney.
But that is still a victory for those who argue a rail link is critical to the success of the new airport.
Warren Truss, the federal minister for infrastructure, has just issued a joint statement with the NSW minister for transport and infrastructure, Andrew Constance, as well as the federal minister for major projects, Paul Fletcher.
The statement outlines a rail options plan to examine Western Sydney’s rail transport needs, including serving the proposed Western Sydney Airport and the booming Western Sydney Priority Growth and Land Release Areas.
“We are getting on with the job of making the proposed Western Sydney Airport a reality, with the official declaration of the airport site and community consultation now under way on a detailed draft Airport Plan and draft Environmental Impact Statement,’’ the three ministers said in the joint statement.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“We know Western Sydney’s population is set to increase from two million to three million over the next 20 years so this options plan will look at rail transport needs for the airport, as well as surrounding communities and employment lands.[/social_quote]
“Construction has already started on the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan of major road upgrades to meet the needs of the community and service the proposed airport.
“This options plan will consider rail as part of the broader transport network needed to support an airport and Western Sydney’s growth.
“We are planning for the airport to be ‘rail ready’ when it opens with space for a station and tunnels excavated, as well as investigating the best options for the rail link—the right route, when to build it and how best to fund it.
“There is no doubt there will need to be a rail line one day linking the proposed Western Sydney Airport and surrounding communities.
“The options plan will help us determine the type of rail, when it will be required and how much it will cost to lock-in the right transport solution for the future. “The scoping study will also consider funding and financing issues, including whether value capture techniques could assist meeting the funding requirement.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“We have already committed to ensuring the proposed airport is ‘rail ready’ from day-one, meaning that we can start running services as soon as the demand is there.[/social_quote]
“At the same time, the NSW Government has been consulting the community on possible North-South rail alignments from Leppington to St Marys.
“The momentum continues to grow on this game changing project for Western Sydney and we are working together to make sure we have the right transport in place to connect the airport site and surrounding employment areas with Western Sydney’s growing residential areas,’’ the ministers said.
The rail options plan will be completed over the next 12 months and will investigate economic, population and commercial drivers, as well as mapping out costs and timeframes.
There will be opportunities for the public to have their say as part of an informed discussion on Western Sydney’s future transport needs.
The rail options plan will take into account existing reports as well as plans for the future rail needs of Sydney.
Rail ready, scoping studies, might run a Metro Rail to Liverpool.
Steady stream of delaying tactics with no vision or decision.
Public rail links, built by the government from taxpayer funds not private enterprise, are critical to the economic future of our young workers of the Western Sydney.
The airport in particular will drive massive job opportunities but in case nobody has not noticed yet it is currently the middle of nowhere. Are we seriously asking business people and tourists to catch a bus for an hour or more once they have landed..!!
It needs Rail as well as Road to maximise the opportunities for our young people to have a secure future.