Western Sydney mayors demand North South Rail Link be fast-tracked

Western Sydney mayors have weighed in on the future of Greater Sydney and its transformation into a global gateway, demanding state and federal governments fast track the north-south rail link to establish “new, connected communities in the centre of Sydney’s west”.

Mayors joined forces to demand the North South Rail Link be fast-tracked.

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Western Sydney mayors have weighed in on the future of Greater Sydney and its transformation into a global gateway, demanding state and federal governments fast-track the north-south rail link to establish “new, connected communities in the centre of Sydney’s west”.

The local government representatives came together alongside the Urban Development Institute of Australia at a Western Sydney planning conference on Thursday to highlight the significance employment, infrastructure and masterplanning will play in western Sydney’s future.

The North South Rail Link will provide access for commuters from the Western Sydney Aerotropolis at Badgerys Creek to the main Western Line at St Marys and Southern Line near Macarthur.

The NSW Liberal Government promised to investigate extensions for the rail corridor between St Marys, Schofields and the Sydney Metro Northwest at Rouse Hill at the NSW Election in March.

Mayors demanded the Western Sydney Airport business park be linked by a fast-tracked North South Rail Link.

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller predicted “western Sydney will fail” if all levels of government didn’t work together to deliver infrastructure, jobs and improved quality of life.

Ms Waller said the North South Rail Link would play a key role in cementing the future success of the Greater Sydney Commission’s Metropolis of Three Cities masterplan and communities along the transport corridor.

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne hit out at the lack of connectivity earmarked by the NSW Government between The Hills and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis through the North South Rail Link.

The North South Rail Link in western Sydney falls short for The Hills. Picture: Transport for NSW

“The Hills is not part of the western Sydney City Deal or the plan for the North South Rail Link, which is a shame, because the investment and growth of western Sydney is just as important for The Hills,” she said.

“Regional transport is a key focus of our plan for the future of The Hills because a large percentage of our workforce call other parts of western Sydney home.

“We want our residents to have access to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis to ensure that our businesses have a global platform for growth, there is a missing link between St Marys and The Hills that needs to be filled.”

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said Western Sydney would fail unless all levels of government worked together to create a connected city. Picture: Robert Pozo

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne criticised the lack of connection from the new airport to The Hills.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler warned more development was coming to Penrith, “including Penrith Lakes”, and said the North South Rail Link was needed to connect these new communities to other parts of western Sydney.

“The people that are born and bred in Penrith want a connected city,” he said. “They want to retain our rural assets, but also develop a more urban and mixed-use CBD that benefits from the connectivity the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and North South Rail Link will provide.”

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler said increased development saw a demand for infrastructure.

Blacktown Council chief executive Kerry Robinson said the next boom town vision for his local government area was in the employment sector.

“There is opportunity for increased development in the commercial and industrial sectors in western Sydney, particularly in Blacktown,” he said. “Every week we add 104 jobs to the economy of Blacktown, but there is still 1000ha of vacant employment land that is up for the taking.

Concept images of property developer BHL's Northern Gateway City, located at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis at Badgerys Creek.

“But the opportunities of a successful western Sydney of the future hinge on infrastructure and growing equity across the city.”

But Campbelltown Council managing director Lindy Deitz said residents in south west Sydney would not benefit from the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, “because the jobs and industries surrounding it will be too difficult to access”.

Ms Deitz said Campbelltown was facing a tidal wave of development, but had not been provided with the infrastructure to cater for it.