Western Sydney Aerotropolis: Major changes to M12 motorway, Elizabeth Dr

The state and federal government have announced major changes to M12 Motorway access to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. See what it means for you.

Major changes to the plans for the M12 motorway have been unveiled, with the NSW Government planning two additional connections for the $1.8 billion project to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister, Paul Fletcher and NSW Roads Minister Andrew Constance revealed two new links for the M12 would be constructed at Elizabeth Dr, near the existing Elizabeth Drive and M7 interchange, while the second would open up at the airport entry via Elizabeth Drive and the new M12 airport access road.

major changes to the M12 motorway plans have revealed new connections to the Western Sydney Airport.

The federal and state ministers said the changes to M12 blueprints provided “smooth and direct access to the new Western Sydney International Airport” and greater connectivity for local communities.

“Major work is expected to start in 2022 and be completed prior to the Western Sydney International Airport opening in 2026,” Mr Fletcher said on Thursday morning.

“Construction procurement for the M12 will start soon with the release of a registration of interest.”

major changes to the M12 motorway plans have revealed new connections to the Western Sydney Airport.

While Mr Constance said community feedback resulted in design modifications.

“The M12 is more than just a road to the airport. It’s the east-west spine for the Aerotropolis precinct that will better connect Western Sydney to the rest of the city and beyond,” Mr Constance said.

“The M12 Motorway will support more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs during its delivery, and provide safer and faster access to employment hubs across Western Sydney.”

An additional $286 million for the new connections will be jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments as part of the modified plans, increasing total costs to more than $2.08 billion.

Last week, a Budget Estimates hearing revealed that there is no plan for a hospital the western Sydney Aerotropolis region, which would cater for 1.3m people.

EARLIER

HOSPITAL PASS FOR AIRPORT CITY ‘THE SIZE OF ADELAIDE’

On March 4, 2021

The Aerotropolis city being built on the outskirts of Sydney may have a population of 1.3 million, but no land has been allocated for a hospital and health precinct within the masterplan.

NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Despite land not being allocated for a hospital by the NSW Government within the draft masterplan currently on exhibition, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Health Infrastructure were “looking at what is necessary” when it comes to health provisions for the greenfield city.

An overview of the Aerotropolis.

Mr Hazzard fired back at questions by Labor MLC Courtney Houssos, who stressed a “city the size of Adelaide” being built at Badgerys Creek required specific health provisions.

“If there is the population growth that we are expecting, there will be a new hospital,” Mr Hazzard said.

When asked why the government hadn’t identified land for a health precinct, the Minister said there were “vast amounts of land that we can build a hospital on”.

The Draft Western Sydney Aerotropolis Plan does not mention a hospital for the new city, with just one reference to a health precinct in the Northern Gateway precinct.

Shadow Health spokesman Ryan Park said the government’s admission that there was no guarantee residents would have their own hospital at the Aerotropolis was “astonishing”.

Shadow Health spokesman Ryan Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

“Why on earth would a government who boasts about the new Aerotropolis not be able to explain where a critical service like a hospital will be located or at least that residents moving in to the area will be able to access one,” he said.

“This government is leaving the suburbs of western Sydney behind and it is simply appalling that families who will call this area home are not given certainty that they will be able to access a hospital in the area.”

Artist's impressions of the future Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Picture: Handout via NCA NewsWire

Mr Hazzard was also questioned over why the NSW Government had delisted land earmarked for a hospital in Sydney’s southwest, but he did not answer. 

In July, NewsLocal revealed a Parliamentary Inquiry was told the government delisted a 10ha site in southwest Sydney set aside for a hospital despite overwhelming calls to increase health services as population numbers skyrocket.

The site proposed for the health precinct was located in the suburb of Wilton — between 25 and 45 km from surrounding hospitals including Campbelltown, Bowral, and Wollongong.

The health precinct was touted as an “integrated healthcare to a growing community”.

Shadow Western Sydney spokesman Greg Warren said the government’s priorities for Western Sydney were “disjointed”.

An overview of the masterplan.

“We’re talking about the second most populous health district but the lowest budget (per person),” Mr Warren said. “The Health Minister needs to be more accountable and stop neglecting communities in Western Sydney.

The comments come after NewsLocal revealed residents in southwest Sydney were funded $800 less per person each year compared to Sydney Local Health.

Figures tendered at a parliamentary inquiry reveal the budget for the South Western Local Health District has been set at $1700 per resident — 30 per cent less than the $2500 budgeted for those who live in the Sydney Local Health District.

$790M REDEVELOPMENT OF LIVERPOOL TO BE COMPLETE BY 2026

The $790 million redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital is expected to be complete in 2026, a Budget Estimates hearing has been told.

The clarification of timelines for the completion of the project comes as sources told NewsLocal there had been delays in the completion of designs for the major redevelopment.

A Liverpool Hospital clinician, who did not wish to be named, said open space areas within the redevelopment designs were being revised by South West Sydney Local health District and Health Infrastructure after concerns the plans “didn’t meet new COVID-19 standards”.

“We are being told Health Infrastructure is being forced to rethink the plans for the hospital — pushing back the completion of design timelines,” the clinician said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said work behind he scenes to finalise the plans were ongoing.

“This is a major functioning hospital and we can’t diminish that capacity,” Mr Hazzard said.

“It would be easier to build it on a greenfield site.”

South West Sydney Local Health District chief executive, Amanda Larkin, confirmed clinicians had raised concerns.

“There have been ongoing discussions with staff around the open space arrangements and the application of the design phase,” Ms Larkin said.

While Health Infrastructure NSW chief executive Rebecca Wark said the delivery of the redeveloped hospital would be done in stages.

“The construction will be done in two parts with construction completion in 2023 and 2026,” Ms Wark said.