First stage of $1 billion light rail from Parramatta gets planning green light
PARRAMATTA’S $1 billion light rail project is full steam ahead with planning approvals ticked off and construction set to begin by the end of this year.
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BUILDING on Parramatta’s $1 billion light rail project will start before the end of the year after the project secured the green light from the council.
The first stage of the 12km twin track will link the booming Westmead health precinct and Carlingford through Parramatta and carry up to 300 passengers between 5am and 1am seven days a week when it opens in 2023.
“Parramatta light rail will create close to 5000 jobs, connect communities along the route and transform the way that people explore all the attractions that Western Sydney has to offer, with a light rail service every 7.5 minutes in peak periods,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
As well as linking hospitals at Westmead the light rail will connect to the new Western Sydney Stadium, three Western Sydney University campuses, the relocated Powerhouse Museum, Riverside Theatre, Rosehill Racecourse, and residents at Camellia and Telopea.
The Daily Telegraph’s Project Sydney campaign has called for a firm timetable for the project — including the critical stage 2 extension through to Sydney Olympic Park — and for protection for Church St businesses facing the same disruption that unfolded in the CBD.
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The government has allocated $1 billion to stage 1 of the project and the full cost will be revealed when contracts are signed later this year. A final business case for a planned stage 2 is due by the end of 2018.
Parramatta MP Geoff Lee said more than 72,000 new homes were planned for around the central city over the next 20 years.
“Parramatta light rail is an essential part of our plan for this growth,” he said.