Sydney Metro West: where properties will be acquired, travel times and station sites
Hundreds of private properties are expected to be bulldozed to pave the way for the multibillion-dollar Sydney Metro West project. HERE IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Central Sydney
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It is the multibillion-dollar transport project expected to more than double the number of trains available between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD — but 154 homes and businesses are facing the wrecking ball to make it a reality.
A total of seven metro stations have been confirmed along the Sydney Metro west line, including Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North and Five Dock. While a further two stations — Rydalmere and Pyrmont — are also potential sites being considered by the government.
A report into property acquisition required along the 24km Sydney Metro West network revealed two metro station sites, the North Strathfield and The Bays precincts, were chosen as they were “wholly located on existing NSW Government owned land”.
However, that won’t stop the government from acquiring private property along the rest of the line to make the Metro West a reality.
The planner said the project would “minimise acquisition of residential land”, but 34 residential properties at the Westmead Metro Station site would be acquired as part of the plan. A total of eight businesses and seven commercial buildings will be bulldozed at the Parramatta Metro Station site, while 35 commercial buildings, one home and three vacant sites will be purchased by the government at Clyde to pave the way for the billion-dollar project.
A further three commercial premises at Sydney Olympic Park will disappear, while four residential properties and 20 commercial premises will also be acquired at Burwood North.
In Five Dock, 11 businesses and five homes will also face the wrecking ball for the project.
“During Stage 1, the main property impact would be the acquisition for construction sites proposed for station excavation, service facilities, the stabling and maintenance facility and ancillary facilities or services,” a planner for the project said. “Where possible, these construction sites would be located where permanent operational infrastructure would also
be required.
“Sydney Metro has appointed Personal Managers to offer residents and small businesses assistance and support throughout the acquisition process.”
The project is expected to cut travel times between Parramatta and the CBD by 10 minutes and requires more than 10,000 construction workers to make the plans a reality.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the project, expected to start construction this year, was currently on exhibition — declaring the Metro would be a jobs bonanza that will take more than 41,000 cars off the road each day.
“Sydney Metro West is truly a once-in-a-century project which will forever change how we get around our great city,” Mr Constance said. “This underground Metro is going to be the modern day game changer for our city, serving us for decades to come.”
The planner said the delivery of Sydney Metro West “would provide a direct, fast, and frequent connection between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, linking communities along the way that have previously not been serviced by rail”.
“Sydney Metro West will ease crowding on the T1 Western Line, T9 Northern Line and the T2 Inner West and Leppington Line, with customers instead changing to metro rail for direct and faster journeys,” the planner said “The reduction in customers will allow Sydney Trains to have more capacity in the west and outer west.”
The planner said the delivery of the project offers the opportunity to create “new places” at Metro stations across the network.
“Sydney Metro West would provide city-shaping benefits as the significant increase in transport connectivity, capacity and amenity in the Greater Parramatta to Sydney CBD corridor, would boost the economic productivity of Sydney and unlock planned land use outcomes in the CBDs, planned precincts and urban renewal areas,” the planner said.
The exhibition of plans comes almost a year after the Sydney Metro northwest was opened to the public.