Western Sydney Aerotropolis: Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown rapid bus routes revealed
Plans have been revealed for three rapid bus routes to cut through Western Sydney towns and shuttle thousands of travellers to the Western Sydney Airport. SEE IF YOUR HOME WILL BE IMPACTED HERE.
Macarthur
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Three rapid bus transit lines will shuttle travellers and workers from Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis,
And while Transport for NSW indicated that the system would use existing roads, and a preferred route had not been finalised, the initial designs have led to concerns housing estates, parkland and a massive industrial precinct will be sliced and diced to accommodate the routes.
A NSW Government document revealed the three bus routes would be operational by the opening of the Western Sydney Airport in 2026, however, concerns have been raised about the proposed routes and the impact they would have on housing estates.
The route shows it going through high-priced estates including Glenmore Park in Penrith, Blair Athol in Campbelltown, as well as Currans Hill and Harrington Park in Camden.
It also suggests suburbs including Austral, Middle Grange and Green Valley in the Liverpool local government area could be impacted.
The scoping report for Aerotropolis transit draws a line directly through the heart of as many as seven communities, while also suggesting the rapid transit routes will cut through the Scenic Hills that divide Camden and Campbelltown and the Smeaton Grange industrial estate.
Campbelltown state Labor MP Greg Warren said the proposed routes cutting through established suburbs was “alarming”.
“I need to reiterate that a rapid bus route is a tokenistic gesture at best from this South-West Sydney-despising state government,” he said.
“The train line from Western Sydney Airport to Macarthur should have been up and running when the airport opened but as it stands we may be waiting another 15-20 years for that to actually happen.
“Instead, we will be stuffed onto buses like pickles in a jar.”
Mr Warren called on the NSW Government to reveal a detailed acquisition map to “come clean and explain what homes and businesses will be impacted by this route”.
According to the scoping report, the rapid bus transit routes would be designed as a network to connect the Aerotropolis business park, Airport terminals and Metro stations within the Aerotropolis core to Campbelltown, Liverpool and Penrith.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the department has started planning for the Western Sydney rapid bus routes as part of the Western Sydney City Deal.
“The rapid bus routes are proposed to operate on the existing road network, principally on major road corridors which connect key activity centres and provide fast and efficient rapid bus operations,” the spokeswoman said.
“The preferred routes have yet to be determine — route selection will be undertaken in close collaboration with Local Government and other stakeholders.
“This will consider how best to maximise community access and mitigate community impacts.”
Detailed planning and the business case for the project won’t be completed until late 2021, according to the department. The Government will contract a bus operator and develop infrastructure improvements following the completion of the plans.