Western Sydney Aerotropolis rail links: where homes, businesses will be demolished
The NSW Government has revealed where three rail links will be constructed to connect major western Sydney CBDs to the Aerotropolis. SEE WHERE THE LINES WILL BE BUILT.
Macarthur
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Thousands of tourists, workers and commercial products will be funnelled in and out the Western Sydney Aerotropolis through three new major rail lines — including a major freight link — as the final corridors for the multibillion-dollar rail expansion plan were secured.
The North-South Rail Corridor, dubbed the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport project, will stretch from the Western Line at St Mary’s station in an underground metro tunnel to Orchard Hills, before it links to a massive 20km above-ground rail line stretching all the way to the Aerotropolis at Badgerys Creek.
A second above-ground Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport line will stretch further south from the Aerotropolis to Oran Park, before it is linked up to the Main South Line with an underground rail to Macarthur station.
The South West Rail Link will be expanded at Leppington through an above ground line to connect to the North South Rail Corridor at Bringelly.
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Meanwhile, the Western Sydney Freight Line Corridor will run from the future Outer Sydney Orbital at Luddenham through to the M7 at Horsley Park. From there it will join a future section through Wetherill Park, which will link to the Southern Sydney Freight Line at Leightonfield — connecting to Port Botany.
Campbelltown state Labor MP Greg Warren raised concerns around the impact the North-South Rail link will have when it tunnels under The Australian Botanical Gardens at Mt Annan.
“There is no doubt that there needs to be a rail line from the new Western Sydney Airport to Macarthur, but I have serious concerns about what consultation actually occurred with land owners who will have the tunnel beneath their property,” Mr Warren told NewsLocal.
“The Australian Botanic Garden in particular is home to many rare and endangered species and there must be an iron clad guarantee that there will be no detrimental impacts on the garden.
“Anyone can draw a line on a map, that’s the easy part — building a practical and sensible train tunnel is a different story.
“This government has already shown they are willing to destroy 1000 hectares of world heritage area in order to raise the Warragamba Dam wall, so who knows what they’d do to the Australian Botanic Garden in order to build this tunnel.”
He also raised concern around lengthy planning timeline set out for the rail link to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, which “may not begin for at least another 10 years”.
“This project is a lifetime away from coming to fruition anyway, which is not good news for Macarthur residents,” he said.
But a Transport for NSW spokesman said the metro tunnel, which would be constructed deep underground would not disturb the gardens.
“The Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport project is around 20km from the Mt Annan Botanic Gardens and as such there would be no impacts,” he said.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance argued preserving the corridors for metro and freight links would “pave the way for a significant boost to connectivity in the region”.
“Preserving these corridors for future passenger and freight transport links supports the development of the Western Parkland City, while planning for the needs of growing communities and industries to accommodate commuters, workers and businesses who all rely on different types of transport modes,” Mr Constance said.
“Transport will play a huge role in shaping the way our communities move around in years to come, and we want to get this vision right, which is why we have spoken to the community at great length before finalising these future transport links.”
Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the finalised transport links will form the backbone of strategic development in the Western Parkland City.
“These future transport links will offer better connectivity for residents, and provide certainty to drive investment in new employment hubs near the new Western Sydney Airport and broader Aerotropolis,” Mr Stokes said.
The NSW Government said property owners have been notified about the transport links and further details are being provided to them on acquisitions