Fears Parramatta Light Rail stage 2 hangs in doubt

Western Sydney business leaders are trying to shore up confidence in the Parramatta Light Rail project following fears it may be scrapped.

David Borger says scrapping the extension would be, “short-sighted”.

• Govt urged to get cracking on light rail
• $561m for infrastructure project
• Plans for green track along light rail

The Western Sydney Business Chamber has ramped up pressure on the State Government to deliver the second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail.

Reports staffing levels have dropped amid uncertainty over the government’s willingness to proceed has cast doubt over the future of the state’s multi-billion dollar project.

An artist impression of the Parramatta Light Rail train stopping at Macquarie St, Parramatta.

The Fairfax media report has sparked concerns from the chamber and more than 70 key western Sydney businesses and community organisations, which have identified the second stage linking Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park as a priority public transport project.

The chamber’s executive director, David Borger, has warned against abandoning planned work for the major infrastructure project.

He has renewed calls to see the government release a business case and construction timeline for the second stage.

He said scrapping the extension of Parramatta Light Rail would be “incredibly short-sighted”.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson said without the extension, existing challenges of public transport would remain unresolved.

Cr Wilson said it would be a vital piece of infrastructure to meet the needs of existing and planned developments, and would link new neighbourhoods to the CBD and key public transport hubs.

He said Parramatta has provided the largest number of housing approvals in NSW and needed continued commitment from the State Government to provide the necessary infrastructure to support that growth.

How the plans will appear for Telopea station.

A Transport for NSW spokesman said the State Government was considering a final business case an investment decision would follow.

Mr Borger said while the eastern suburbs got a shiny new light rail “it looks like the growing communities along the Parramatta River will have to make do with a glorified bus route to shuttle residents to the future West Metro if the government pulls the pin”.

He said local communities from a range of socio-economic backgrounds were glad to live in the west but had access to a substandard public transport service, and the second stage would be revolutionary.

“At the election we were told we could ‘have it all’ and that’s what we want — we don’t want half of the full light rail system. We deserve it,” Mr Borger said.

Today the NSW Government confirmed Anand Thomas as new Parramatta Light Rail program director, taking over from Tim Poole who has left for a new role as chief operating officer for the Western City and Aerotropolis Authority.