Development boom predicted along inner west Metro lines
TWO Metro lines running through the inner west are set to trigger a high-rise boom in low-lying suburbs under powers being handed to a new body that run the public transport lines.
Inner West
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TWO Metro lines running through the inner west are set to trigger a high-rise boom in low-lying suburbs under powers being handed to a new body that run the public transport lines.
Laws passed by the State Government have paved the way for a stand alone statutory corporation to operate the Sydney Metro with an objective to “carry out the orderly and efficient development of land in the locality of stations”.
The legislation - passed last month under the 2018 Sydney Metro Bill - also gives the corporation power to acquire land to “carry out, finance, manage or otherwise participate in residential and commercial” development.
Examples of this precinct planning and rezoning approach include the 700 units planned for the top of the Metro Station at Waterloo.
With two Metro lines set to run through the inner west, councils are already predicting low lying suburbs such as North Strathfield and Five Dock could expect an increase in density.
Also on the route are Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park as part of Metro City and Southwest.
Sydney Metro West has possible stations at Concord West or North Strathfield, North Burwood or Five Dock, Kings Bay, Pyrmont, Olympic Park and the Bays Precinct.
Strathfield state MP and Opposition Transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay said the powers granted to a Sydney Metro corporation were “unheard of”.
“I think this is about fattening it up for sale,” she said. “Why should this agency, purported to deliver Metro services, be able to build high-rise development or a shopping centre?”
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the corporation would “have an important role in relation to place making … to ensure transport and land use planning are truly integrated.”
Business are rallying behind the project in Five Dock which has recorded a downturn in trade in recent years.
“It would put us back on the map,” chamber president Joe Di Giacomo said.
Canada Bay Council has supported a station in the suburb, but noted it could “change the local character and increase the density and height of built forms.”
Labor Mayor Angelo Tsirekas said: The Sydney West Metro project is a fantastic opportunity to deliver a new mode of sustainable transport for our growing community.
“It will connect our residents and workers to Sydney CBD, the Bays Precinct, Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta via rail in a fast and reliable manner,” he said.
“It would take only eight minutes to travel the 7.7km from Five Dock to Central via the new Metro line, allowing our locals to bypass traffic on Parramatta Road and relieve bus congestion along that corridor.”
Drilling has already begun for the Sydney Metro West with soil investigations taking place in areas including Concord, Lilyfield and Five Dock.