Ex-NSW premiers Nick Greiner and Morris Iemma reveal plans to turn Sydney into global city

THE Baird government has $20 billion to burn from the sale of poles and wires. Former premiers Nick Greiner and Morris Iemma reveal what they would do with the cash to turn Sydney into a global city.

COMMUTERS would travel on electric buses capable of travelling 180km on a motorway from Sutherland Shire to Tempe before going underground to the CBD.

The euro-style western Metro line from Parramatta to the CBD would also be up and running, easing congestion along one of Sydney’s busiest routes while a restaurant and arts tourism precinct to rival The Rocks would be established using Parramatta’s under-utilised heritage buildings.

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They are just some of the key initiatives former Labor premier Morris Iemma believes NSW needs to embrace.

Former Liberal premier Nick Greiner would build a toll-tunnel from Sydney to the northern beaches, complete the outer-western rail loop from the southwest to Badgerys Creek and Penrith while sorting the out redevelopments of both Newcastle and Wollongong CBDs.

Both former leaders believe the West Connex being constructed under the Baird government should be expanded out to Sydney Airport and the Port Botany industrial area.

The views come ahead of the two ex-premiers coming together at a NSW Business Chamber gathering in Parramatta this week to discuss the way forward for Sydney beyond the upcoming March state election.

With NSW Premier Mike Baird having unlocked $20 billion from the sale of poles and wires, Mr Greiner said the Liberal leader had a shot at fixing Sydney’s transport woes at a grand scale.

Mr Greiner, who believes a second Sydney Harbour crossing should be delayed to focus on other projects, said his one greatest regret was not having been able to finish Sydney’s major road network, including completing the M4 to connect with Sydney airport and Port Botany.

However, the one project the Baird government could pursue would be the outer-western rail loop, he said.

“Mike Baird has a chance of being remembered as the best premier in memory, because with the sale of poles and wires and with Federal support, he has the chance to produce an integrated 21st Century public transport system and fixing the road network instead of doing it in bits and pieces,” Mr Greiner said.

“It’s about making the whole thing work — roads and rail.

“If I had to accelerate one thing, it would be the South West rail link to Penrith loop, which is where frankly, you can produce dramatic change even though it is 15 years into the future.”

An aerial view of Sydney roads. Picture: Chris McKeen

Mr Iemma said the lack of a rapid transport system rendered Sydney the poorer cousin of its global counterparts.

While the North West Link was part of rapid transport system, Mr Iemma did not agree with the routes.

He maintained the West Metro, shelved in 2010 by the Keneally government, was the only way forward to ease congestion with other Metro stations to follow.

A bus transit way on the F6 corridor in Sydney’s south with a tunnel to the city would also speed up transportation during peak hours.

“Sydney is a global city and the one thing that it does not have is a mass rapid transport system that can move tens of thousands of people — that’s the one thing we lack,” he said.

“If I had been there longer, the plan was to start building a metro system with Parramatta as a start.”

Fixing up Sydney roads is an important part of making Sydney a better city. Picture: Chris McKeen

Mr Iemma said other improvements to the city could be achieved by tearing down the old Sydney Fish Market buildings, which he described as “a sh*thole of a place” and the Cahill Expressway.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said the $20 billion Rebuilding NSW infrastructure plan would “turbocharge” the city.

“This is a crucial election for the future of NSW which is why I’ve outlined a once-in-a-generation plan to turbocharge infrastructure in NSW,” he said.

NSW Business Chamber western Sydney director David Borger said: “Morris and Nick were builders, and that’s exactly what this city needs, especially in western Sydney.”

NICK GREINER’S PLAN

1. Complete the outer-western rail loop by connecting the South-West rail link with Badgerys Creek Airport and Penrith

2. Extend M4 out to Sydney Airport and Port Botany

3. Sort out the redevelopment of Newcastle and Wollongong CBD’s

4. Build a toll tunnel to the Northern Beaches

5. Finish the Walsh Bay Arts precinct

Morris Iemma.

Nick Greiner.

MORRIS IEMMA’S PLAN

1. Resurrect the West Metro rail line to provide rapid transport from Parramatta to the CBD

2. Create a rapid electric bus transit-way on the F6 corridor from Tempe to Wollongong

3. Tear down the Sydney Fish Markets buildings and the Cahill Expressway

4. Extend the West Connex out to Sydney Airport and industrial land around Port Botany

5. Establish a new “Rocks Precinct” in western Sydney, turning Parramatta’s heritage buildings into cafes, art-houses and restaurants.

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