Western Sydney rail link would create more than 40,000 jobs: rail alliance

A NORTH south rail connection in western Sydney could deliver the region more than 40,000 jobs according to the Western Sydney Rail Alliance.

Proponents of a north south rail link in Western Sydney said it would deliver more than 40,000 jobs.

A NORTH south rail connection in western Sydney could deliver the region more than 40,000 jobs according to the Western Sydney Rail Alliance.

They have commissioned a report by Deloitte and Arup to look into the economic benefits of linking growth areas in the west via a rail line and their early indications are the infrastructure would be a massive jobs boost.

Previous designs for the rail line have shown it intersecting with the western line at St Marys and running south, through the airport to Liverpool and Campbelltown.

Western Sydney Business Dialogue chairman Christopher Brown is convener of the Western Sydney Rail Alliance. He said building fast rail to a new airport that bypasses Western Sydney shouldn’t be a priority.

Chris Brown told the Australian Pacific Aviation Summit in Brisbane last week the benefits of a western Sydney airport needed to flow to residents of the area, including better transport connections.

“Most transport, infrastructure and aviation experts will tell you that Western Sydney Airport needs to have the transport connections that link it back to Western Sydney,’’ he said.

“After all, it’s not Sydney’s second airport, it’s Western Sydney’s first airport.

“It is the only way to allow our kids access to global jobs, our businesses to national and international markets and our local tourism attractions to inbound travellers.”

The land around the proposed Western Sydney Airport site as already been designated as a priority growth area by the government. Now rail proponents want residents in the west to have proper rail connections to make the most of it.

Deloitte Partner, Theo Psychogios, said that their numbers have shown that prioritising a rail line in western Sydney would boost employment hubs in the region, particularly in the areas of health, education and innovation.

“Building mass transit connectivity between the north and south growth regions of outer Sydney will be a larger catalyst for jobs and investment in the region than any single precinct project other than Western Sydney Airport,” Mr Psychogios said.

“Preliminary analysis suggests the construction of the rail line could create between 43,800 — 65,800 direct jobs and up to 98,600 indirect jobs.”

Mr Brown said fast rail from the CBD, through Parramatta and to the new airport site wouldn’t help drive growth in the west like a north south rail link would.

Mr Brown said a north south rail link would provide better access for parts of Sydney that lack public transport options and would help promote economic growth.

He said fast rail services to the city shouldn’t be priorities above the north south rail line.

“An express service from the CBD to Badgerys Creek should not be the first priority and could be dismissed as a ‘Western Sydney bypass’ as it would deny the region the benefits of the new airport in our midst,’’ Mr Brown said.

A report detailing the jobs boost the rail line would produce is due to be completed shortly and will respond to the NSW and Federal government investigation of rail options.