Wollondilly Council to call for rail as an alternative to M9 motorway

WOLLONDILLY Council will advocate for rail as an alternative to the proposed M9 Outer Sydney Orbital motorway.

The proposed M9 Outer Sydney Orbital will cut through Wollondilly Shire.

• The older properties making millions in Macarthur

WOLLONDILLY Council will advocate for rail as an alternative to the proposed M9 Outer Sydney Orbital motorway.

Council released a draft yesterday of its submission to Transport NSW on the controversial motorway proposal.

Councillors will debate the submission a Monday night’s council meeting before it is finalised and forwarded to Government departments.

In its submission, council identified improved public transport connections to the region, particularly rail, as an alternative to the motorway proposal.

Wollondilly Mayor Judy Hannan speaks at a M9 community forum. Picture: Carmela Roche

The unfinished Maldon-Dombarton railway line. Picture: Nick Wilson

“Council is supportive of improving connections to support growth, particularly where this is to support planned growth where there is Government commitment,” the document states.

“For example, the Wilton Priority Growth Area will provide 15,000 dwellings within the next 20-30 years.

“It is absolutely critical that passenger rail services connecting the Shire north to Campbelltown and the future Western Sydney Airport be established as a priority, and as an alternative to the M9.

“This would require the existing Main Southern Line and Maldon-Dombarton rail corridor be

widened to have a dedicated freight and passenger line and connect Macarthur to Wilton as

stage one for early delivery and then onto the Illawarra (Dombarton) as stage two.”

In its submission, council criticised the consultation process and called for the motorway route to be shifted towards developer and government-owned land.

“If the NSW Government considers alternative routes and options for the corridor ... the alignment only, as far as possible, be shifted to land that is owned by developers and the NSW Government as an alternative,” the document stated.

“Any alternative routes should undergo proper meaningful consultation with the residents of Wollondilly Shire.”

“Of the 13 planned drop in sessions for the corridor preservation during May and June

2018, no sessions were scheduled or organised by the NSW Government within Wollondilly

Local Government Area, contrary to the previous commitment made by Government.”

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