Boomtown: Western Sydney Leaders raise concerns for investment projects over Sydney Metro west funding uncertainty

MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR investment opportunities could be hanging in the balance, due to a lack of clarity for funding around the Sydney Metro west project.

Western Sydney Leaders are concerned about a lack of clarity around funding for Sydney Metro west.

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MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR investment opportunities could be hanging in the balance, due to a lack of clarity around the Sydney Metro west project.

Leaders for major infrastructure and development proposals across western Sydney are fearful their projects will be slowed by uncertainty of funding for the Sydney Metro West project.

University of Sydney Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Spence and Sydney Olympic Park Authority chief executive Charles Moore revealed their concerns around the success of major investments at the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Boomtown event.

The University of Sydney has partnered with the NSW Government to establish a second campus as part of a leading international health, education and research precinct in Western Sydney.

Dr Spence said the vision for the university’s $500 million investment in western Sydney earmarked more than 25,000 students and 20,600 related jobs generated in the heart of the Westmead health precinct.

“The second university campus would generate a $13 billion economic investment for NSW,” Dr Spence said.

“This will not be Sydney University lite, it will be the very best in what we do … including artificial intelligence, robotics, mechanical visualisation and biomedical engineering.

But Dr Spence said there were fears that transport links — including the Sydney Metro west project linking Westmead to the Sydney CDB — “will not be up to scratch” when the university opens in 2030.

University of Sydney Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Spence. Picture: James Croucher

“With the government’s commitment to the Metro, we think that there would be access to both campuses,” Dr Spence said.

“We want to start conversations with developers about the integration of people and development taking advantage of being in a smart location.

“The university is already working with the research institutes and Western Sydney Local Area Health to determined what an integrated network of healthcare would look like and the creation of a world class health precinct rivalling the best in the world.”

Mr Moore said no one at the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, which recently gazetted major redevelopment plans, would relax “until tunnelling commences”.

Charles Moore, from the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, announcing an initiative to tackle Sydney’s affordability issues faced by first time buyers. Olympic Park. Photo: Bob Barker.

“Everyone is concerned,” he said. “For us the Sydney Metro west is catalytic, it will support the next evolution of Sydney Olympic Park … to create an office market bigger than Chatswood or St Leonards and see more than 5000 new students introduced to the education precinct.”

Mr Moore said the State Government needed to continue to collaborate with stakeholders when identifying stations, revealing he was “almost certain Sydney Olympic Park would have a metro station”.

Artist's impression of the Central precinct, part of the Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan 2030. Supplied by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority

In response, Sydney Metro west project director Brendon Baker said a business case would be wrapped up shortly, alongside the final rouse.

“This is a long term strategic plan for western Sydney,” he said. “The final route hasn’t been decided and we are still working on the number of stations.”

Mr Baker said Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park were being considered for stations, as well as “intermediate stations with links to the current public transport line”.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said he was “obsessed with the Metro project” which “needed it be built, and quick”.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance inspect the first completed Sydney Metro Station and one of the Metro trains. Picture: Monique Harmer

“We have almost completed the final business case and made it clear there will be travel times of 20 minutes between Parramatta and the city,” the minister said.

Mr Constance said he would like clarity around Federal Government support for the Sydney Metro west project.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Chairman Christopher Brown called for the NSW Government to install targets or expectations in order to measure the success of the Metro west project.

“The economic opportunities, the jobs and the urban renewal, that Sydney Metro West will catalyse have been well-highlighted and are expected to have a massive impact on the growth of the region,” Mr Brown said.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Chairman Christopher Brown at the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue meeting. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Just as important as these economic impacts are the opportunities for Metro West to help deliver improved social outcomes — things like better access to important health, education, lifestyle and social services — particularly in places such as Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park.

“The success of the Metro West needs to be measured across all of these areas, and if planned correctly, represents a generational opportunity to deliver high-value jobs closer to the people who live in the Greater West, while relieving congestion and helping create a more liveable and dynamic region.”