Councils along the proposed rail corridor which will connect Sydney’s southwestern suburbs to the new Western Sydney airport have welcomed the federal government’s commitment to inject $1 billion into the project.
The funding – announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week – will buy land for the creation of a rail corridor linking Bradfield City Centre, and Leppington, Camden, and Campbelltown-Macarthur LGAs.
“This is the next practical step in safeguarding the future and ensuring we are well-positioned to deliver the infrastructure communities across southwest Sydney to connect people with the jobs of the future and with each other,” Albanese said.
The Parks – which represents Camden, Campbelltown and Liverpool City councils – has long been calling for the delivery of a south-north rail link.
Improved rail connectivity “is pivotal” for the development of the region, reads a Parks statement. It will facilitate “efficient movement between residential areas and employment hubs” and improve “the liveability of our region by decreasing congestion, emissions and health impacts while increasing opportunities for participation in community events and hence social cohesion”.
“The Parks looks forward to collaborating with all levels of government and key stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of this project, thereby delivering substantial benefits to our communities,” continues the statement.
We look forward to future announcements on the planning, design, and construction phases
Campbelltown Council also welcomed the federal government’s $1 billion commitment to southwest Sydney.
The commitment to invest “is great news for our community and wider region”, Campbelltown Mayor Darcy Lound said. “A dedicated rail corridor will ensure we can accommodate future population growth, create new economic opportunities, and provide our residents with better access to jobs, education and essential services.”
Calling the project “the first step” in delivering the infrastructure Campbelltown residents deserve, Lound added: “We will keep pushing for further investment and look forward to future announcements on the planning, design, and construction phases of this transformative connection for our city.”
While congratulating the federal government for its $1 billion pre-election promise, Liverpool City Council Mayor Ned Mannoun also asked for greater clarity about the project.
“Today we merely bought land,” Mannoun said. “Nothing about when the job will be finished nor who will fund it – which we estimate at $10 billion – at today’s prices. The longer it goes, the more expensive it gets.”
Mannoun expressed concern that the project will be incomplete, much like “the greatly-hyped Fifteenth Avenue upgrade is not a complete link to the airport – it goes halfway and then it’s a rat run for the rest”.
“We need a one-seat trip to the city, not a trip interrupted by having to change trains at multiple stations,” Mannoun added. “The world standard is an airport to city express. This is what we need.”
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