Making the case for Badgerys Creek fast rail

WE’RE committed to the Western Sydney Airport. It is critical to capitalise on the opportunities that both the new economy offers there, says Malcolm Turnbull.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses the Adelaide business community at the Back to Business Lunch for South Australia at the Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AAP Image/Ben Macmahon) NO ARCHIVING

WESTERN Sydney is the fastest growing region in Australia with the greatest ­potential for even more growth.  

It makes up almost half of Sydney’s total population and estimates are that 3 million people will be living here by 2031. More than one in 10 children in Australia are growing up in Western Sydney.  

We are committed to the Western Sydney Airport, one of the most significant pieces of infrastructure that will ever be built here. It is critical to capitalise on the opportunities that both the new economy and Western Sydney offer.  

In the longer term there is no question that for the Western Sydney Airport to be successful and world class, as it must be, it will need transport connections to the rest of the city and region.  

Under the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, jointly funded by my government and the NSW government, it will be well connected by roads when it opens.

 But roads are not enough. World class airports share a common ingredient — fast and convenient public transport links.  

Just last week, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said the airline would not use the new airport because it lacks high speed public transport links.  

Neither the Australian nor the NSW government can commit today to completing a rail connection by 2026. There is too little known about the route, the cost, the value created and the sources of funding.

 So we will ask the question: what do we need to do to get rail there by the time the airport opens in 2026? Or if not, how soon afterwards?  

We know that a rail link won’t only service airport passengers. The people of Western Sydney will also benefit. Transport infrastructure, especially rail, adds enormous value and amenity.  

This is not an airport project in isolation. This is about building a stronger and more diverse economy in Western Sydney, ensuring more businesses and more jobs.  

How do we use a rail link to improve supply, and hence affordability of, residential and business premises? How do we use rail to give people better access to quality jobs?  

A lot of value will be created but is there enough to enable a rail link to be delivered sooner than the traffic at the airport alone would warrant?  

We are already setting aside space for rail including station boxes and approaches at the airport during construction so that the rail link can be established whether at the time the airport opens, which would be preferable, or later.  

Road and rail access is important because airports don’t just connect one place to another.

Better access to the airport allows businesses to get their goods to market quicker. It breaks down barriers between employers and employees too.

In the resource economy we built infrastructure to get coal and gas to market. In the knowledge economy it is vital that we help connect workers with business. The airport will help us do that.

Malcolm Turnbull is Prime Minister of Australia. This is an edited extract of his Lachlan Macquarie speech.