Construction starts on stage one of Parramatta Light Rail
Construction on the $2.4 billion Parramatta Light Rail has started but businesses are bracing for upheaval when a busy dining strip is closed for the controversial project.
Parramatta
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Construction has started on the $2.4 billion Parramatta Light Rail but the public has been warned not to be distracted from the government’s failure to confirm if second stage will proceed.
The first stage of the line will run 12km from Westmead to Carlingford via Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is due to open in 2023.
It will replace the Carlingford train line, which closed on January 4.
On Friday’s turning of the sod at Rydalmere, Acting Transport and Roads Minister Paul Toole said the project would transform Sydney.
Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee said the project would support the creation of new communities including 4500 extra dwellings at Telopea.
“This Parramatta Light Rail will bring people living in greater Parramatta together with a safe and efficient public transport network,” Mr Lee said.
“It will improve connections to popular key destinations across the region, while also linking into Sydney’s greater public transport networks.”
But NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay demanded the government guarantee stage two go ahead otherwise it would deny Melrose Park, Wentworth Point and the Olympic peninsula improvements until the late 2020s.
“Thousands of units are going in,’’ she said.
“People have bought in Melrose Park and Wentworth Point on the promise of an integrated light rail network.
“But I believe stage two is fiction because the Liberals have over promised and there is no money.”
Ms McKay labelled the $2.4 billion project too expensive compared with Canberra’s recently completed 12km light rail of $675 million and that it was plagued with problems.
She cited demolishing Parramatta’s historic Royal Oak Hotel, ripping through the
Cumberland Mental Hospital, shaving green space at Robin Thomas Reserve and failing to connect to Bankwest Stadium.
“Despite massive demand from residents, there is no connection from the high-rises around Carlingford station to the major transport junction of Epping,’’ Ms McKay said.
WATCH
“The Parramatta Light Rail was meant to be an integrated and considered transport project centred on Parramatta – but my fear is it’s turning into a dog’s breakfast.”
Western Sydney Business Chamber executive David Borger also called for stage two to proceed.
“The NSW Government has been reluctant to commit to delivering on its promise of building the full Parramatta Light Rail network,’’ he said.
“It would be a tremendous shame to risk stage one becoming a white elephant by not connecting it to the growing communities springing up along the shores of the Parramatta River.”
Mr Borger said Sydney’s leading peak industry bodies and the City of Parramatta along with 70 large organisations in western Sydney wrote to the NSW Government last year endorsing the need for Parramatta Light Rail stage two.
When asked about delivering stage two, a Transport for NSW spokeswoman provided the same response when asked the same question in November.
“The final business case for the second stage of Parramatta Light Rail is being considered by the NSW Government, with an investment decision to follow,’’ she said.
CHURCH ST CLOSURE
From tomorrow, the light rail project will close part of Church St, aka Eat St, to traffic.
The street will close between Macquarie and Market streets.
Drivers will be encouraged to divert to Marsden and Smith streets.
The free 900 shuttle bus service will also run on new route along George St in the Parramatta CBD.
Mr Toole said Transport for NSW was working hard to minimise the impacts of construction on businesses.
“Transport for NSW will also pause construction from November 1 until January 31 each year along ‘Eat St’ to allow businesses to take advantage of the holiday trading period.
“During this time, events and activities will be put on to support local businesses and encourage families and friends to continue to enjoy all that is on offer.”
But fears are growing that it will be a disaster like the Sydney CBD light rail.
Opposition transport spokesman Chris Minns said “the last thing people in Parramatta and surrounding suburbs want is the CBD disaster brought here”.
“The CBD light rail has been a slow-moving debacle, infuriating residents and sending hundreds of local businesses broke – only to result in travel times twice as long as the bus,’’ he said.