Western Sydney Airport Metro: fears $11b project won’t be ready, won’t return investment
The NSW Government has been grilled over fears a major metro line connecting to the new Western Sydney Airport won’t be ready when terminals open in 2026.
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The NSW Government has been hit with fresh criticism over the Western Sydney Airport Metro line — with fears the $11 billion project wont be ready when the new international airport at Badgerys Creek opens in 2026.
In budget estimates this week, Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes said it was “obviously the plan” to have the Western Sydney Airport Metro open when flights start taking off from the airport, following a barrage of concerns issued by shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey.
The airport is due to open in four years,” Mr Mookhey said. “Yet we don’t know how construction is going on this crucial rail line.
“Given that it took seven years to build the Northwest Metro, how can we believe you when you say that this rail line will be ready for the airport (when it opens in 2026).”
Mr Stokes said he would provide the parliament with “particular advice” on the project.
However, concern over the lack of construction work on the ground isn’t the only head ache for the NSW Government as One Nation MLC Mark Latham hit out at Transport for NSW — highlighting the government’s own cost-benefit analysis reveals just 18 cents will be made for every dollar spent on the $11 billion project.
“It is a minuscule return for our investment, particularly when we know that the cost-benefit for the expansion of the Leppington Line to the airport would be a more viable option,” Mr Latham told News.
“This is $11 billion dollars of public funds, with two-thirds of the benefit going back to property developers.” Mr Latham said the bigger concern was the fact that the project was a “waste of money”.
“The heavy rail line, with the expansion of the Leppington Line, would have the added advantage of servicing the growing communities of Austral, Oran Park and Bringelly,” he said. “There is a major urban corridor already built or being built, but they have no public transport options.”
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However, a Sydney Metro spokeswoman promised the project would be complete “when Western Sydney International opens for passenger services”.
“Construction started in 2020, following planning approval received for the project from both the Australian and NSW Governments,” the spokeswoman said.
“The contract for Station Boxes and Tunnelling was awarded last year and tunnelling will start in early 2023.
“The new twin metro rail tunnels are set to be complete in 2024.”
The spokeswoman said contracts for surface, civil and alignment works had all been awarded this month, while the “final contract package to be procured on the project is expected to be awarded at the end of 2022”.
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“The Infrastructure NSW summary of the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project … clearly states that the overall business case is considered comprehensive and presents a strong case for investment,” she said. “The report found that the project will help realise the long-term city-shaping potential of the future Western Parkland City.”
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