Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone slams sale of land under investigation for ‘future rail’
A western Sydney mayor claims the region has been “abandoned” as land under investigation for a future rail line has been put up for sale.
NSW
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A western Sydney mayor claims the region has been “abandoned” as land under investigation for a future rail line has been put up for sale.
The NSW Government has listed 2.3ha of “surplus” government land for sale via expressions of interest as part of a statewide bid to deliver more than 230 new homes.
The property, bounded by 56-58 Richards Rd, Wakeley, 60A Box Rd, Wakeley, 479 Smithfield Rd, Prairiewood, is part of land under investigation for a proposed East West Rail Link corridor linking Greater Parramatta and the Western Sydney International Airport Precinct.
Fairfield City Council mayor Frank Carbone has slammed the listing, saying the government had “abandoned” hopes for a world-class public transport system for suburbs west of Parramatta.
“They’re selling this land that connects to a T-way that could have been used for a future rail for Western Sydney,” Mr Carbone said.
“Infrastructure Australia said this was the number one most important project, to connect the aerotropolis via a metro through Prairiewood and Cecil Park to Westmead.
“This would have helped people to avoid tolls, to avoid paying the high fuel taxes, and to avoid sitting on a train for an hour and a half from the aerotropolis to the city.”
The land, while zoned for residential, sits adjacent to a SP2 strategic bus corridor which Mr Carbone said had the potential to be developed into a light rail.
If sold, the property is estimated to deliver up to 35 freestanding homes.
A Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) spokesperson said “the NSW Government is pulling every lever to address the housing crisis and deliver a diverse mix of housing across the state”.
“The vacant land was identified as surplus to government requirement through the land audit.
“As part of the land audit process, it was offered to both Homes NSW and the Government developer Landcom.
“With neither deciding to take on the site it was then progressed to the private market for the delivery of much needed housing.”
It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to funnel $1bn to create a rail connection between the Bradfield Aerotropolis, Leppington and Macarthur.
The announcement drew the ire of western Sydney leaders including Independent Fowler MP Dai Le who claimed the announcement was “disingenuous”.
Mr Carbone said the announcement was a snub to western Sydney residents after advocating for years for a local metro rail line through Fairfield City.
“Instead they’re bypassing two million people and they’ve lost the opportunity of connecting the metro from Parramatta to the airport and creating a spine for Sydney,” Mr Carbone said
“It just shows if you live west of Parramatta, you get treated as second class by this government.”
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Originally published as Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone slams sale of land under investigation for ‘future rail’
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