NSW ordered to pay Parramatta Council $200m compensation for Metro station

The Minns government has been forced to pay Parramatta Council more than $200m in compensation for forcibly acquiring land to build a new Metro station.

The Minns government has been forced to pay Parramatta Council more than $200m in compensation for forcibly acquiring land to build a new Metro station.

The Land and Environment Court last week ruled that Sydney Metro would have to pay about $85m more than it had offered for the land, in Parramatta’s CBD.

The land was acquired for the construction of the Parramatta Metro station, on the $26nn Metro West line.

Premier Chris Minns on Sunday said the blowout would not impact the overall cost of Metro West, because it was within existing contingencies.

“It’s within the budget, it can be absorbed within the amount of money that Treasury has allocated to Metro West, and it won’t affect the timeline,” he said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Sydney Metro had proposed to pay $116.3m for the “market value” of the land, and an extra $261,000 in compensation.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said there have been “no delays” caused by the ruling.

“the process is working exactly how it should,” she said.

“I’m pleased that we’re proceeding at pace with Metro West because it’s going to be not only critical to Parramatta but also to our entire city.”

Metro West, linking Parramatta to the CBD, is expected to be finished by 2032. The project was subjected to billions of dollars in cost blowouts under the Coalition, before it was reworked by the Minns government.

Mr Minns last year announced that the project would go ahead with up to two additional stations.

One of those extra stations could be at Rosehill if the Australian Turf Club’s proposal to sell Rosehill Racecourse for a housing “mini city” is successful.

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