Turnbull and Berejikian sign deal with councils for North South Rail Link
A NORTH-south rail link will be constructed from St Marys to Bringelly via western Sydney airport under a joint federal and NSW government deal to be unveiled today.
NSW
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A NORTH-south rail link will be constructed from St Marys to Bringelly via western Sydney airport under a joint federal and NSW government deal to be unveiled today.
The long-awaited western Sydney “city deal”, agreed to with eight mayors, will also include the establishment of a Badgerys Creek “aerotropolis” at North Bringelly and a planning regimen for the region to create more local homes.
Rapid bus services would link Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown to the airport and the aerotropolis, a planning concept which places the airport at the centre of advanced manufacturing; research and medical industries; a science, technology, engineering and mathematics university; a high-performance secondary school; and an advanced vocational, education and training facility.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Premier Gladys Berejiklian will today announce their commitment to the first stage of the rail link from St Marys to Badgerys Creek aerotropolis via western Sydney airport.
They will each put in $50 million to fund a study to finalise a route and station locations.
The whole rail link is expected to cost $7 billion, which has not yet been funded. It would be completed in time for the airport’s scheduled opening in 2026.
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Extension of the line north to Schofields and south to Macarthur is being studied. Investigations are also under way on a southwest rail link to connect the existing Leppington line to the proposed airport via the aerotropolis.
Mr Turnbull said the deal was “groundbreaking” and would add much-needed rail capacity while creating thousands of new jobs and homes.
“The Turnbull and Berejiklian governments have a joint objective of having rail connected to the western Sydney airport in time for the opening of the airport,” he said.
“These city-deal commitments will help realise the aspiration of a 30-minute city for western Sydney, bringing people closer to jobs, education and services to ensure this growing region, its economy and its residents thrive.”
Commonwealth land at North Bringelly will form part of the aerotropolis. The rest will be bought from private land owners.
The deal also involves the establishment of an office in Liverpool to attract national and international businesses.
Councils have committed to an accelerated planning regimen to reduce development costs while boosting housing supply.
Both governments will also commit $60 million towards community facilities and amenities in new growth areas and councils will contribute $30 million.
Councils involved include Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith, Wollondilly, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Fairfield.
Western Sydney Business Chamber director David Borger said the news would set off a development “gold rush”.
“This deal will supercharge the development of new towns from St Marys to the airport,” he said.
“Connecting rail from the airport from day one gives huge certainty to investors that this is actually going to happen.
“The other achievement here was actually getting the deal signed — bringing together a conservative PM and Premier to do a deal with a bunch of Labor mayors.”
Chelsea Ratcliffe, a local resident and waitress at her sister’s cafe in St Marys, welcomed the link.
“Big national companies tend to go to areas where there is big infrastructure,” she said.
“It will pump money into the area and more business attracts more business — good businesses.”