Uni urges Labor to change track on Sydenham to Bankstown Metro
Western Sydney University said it is concerned over Labor’s decision to dump the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro plans.
The Express
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WESTERN Sydney University is concerned over Labor’s decision to dump the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro plans but praises its plans to commit $6 billion to key rail lines in western Sydney.
NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley says that if elected at the next election, Labor will stop work on the Metro Southwest and will instead divert the funds into speeding up construction of a new metro rail line between Western Sydney and the CBD.
Mr Foley has described the plan to convert the 13km section of rail track between Sydenham and Bankstown to the new metro as “wasteful”.
He said ditching the plan would free up “billions of dollars” to speed up the building of the Parramatta to Sydney Metro West line.
Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University (WSU), Dr Andy Marks, wants Mr Foley to change his decision on the Metro Southwest, saying the new link is needed.
“It is vital Labor reverse its opposition to the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro link,” Dr Marks said.
“You cannot back connections to jobs in one part of western Sydney while abandoning them elsewhere — the logic doesn’t stack up.”
He, however, was delighted at Labor’s support for the Badgerys Creek airport link, with Labor’s federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten pledging $6b to build the Sydney Metro West and the rail line to Badgerys Creek airport.
“We don’t need any more studies to tell us the Badgerys-to-Macarthur leg of the southwest rail link is needed,” Dr Marks said.
WSU vice-chancellor and president Professor Barney Glover, praised Labor’s promise to prioritise connections to jobs and industry in Sydney’s fastest growth region.