Second stage of Parramatta light rail line will not open until 2031

The state government expects it to take until 2031 before the second stage of Parramatta’s multibillion-dollar light rail line opens to passengers, about five years later than originally planned.

An environmental assessment of the project also shows that construction of two bridges over Parramatta River for the light rail line will disrupt ferry services for months due to temporary closures of navigational channels. Hundreds of on-street car parks in fast-growing suburbs will also be permanently removed.

An artist’s impression of a bridge over the Parramatta River between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point as part of the second stage of Parramatta’s light rail line.Credit: PAYCE

While the project is still subject to planning approval, the report by Transport for NSW reveals the agency anticipates construction to start in 2025 and take as long as six years to complete. The bridges will each take three years to build.

When the proposed route of the second stage was unveiled in 2017, the government said it was hopeful construction would start before 2020.

The environmental report shows that about 15 homes will be acquired for the second stage of the line, which will run from Camellia to Sydney Olympic Park via Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

Most on-street parking along the 10-kilometre route will be removed for the light rail line and active transport such as cycleways, the report shows.

The elimination of 698 spaces, as well as the temporary removal of 558, will increase competition for parking spots in areas such as Wentworth Point, Sydney Olympic Park and Lidcombe.

The two bridges are planned to be built over the river between Camellia and Rydalmere, and between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

Their construction will force the closure of car parking at Rydalmere wharf and Ermington boat ramp for three years. While the wharf will remain open, the boat ramp will be closed for about three years.

The bridge construction will also require “short-term closures” of Parramatta River’s navigational channel, disrupting the F3 ferry service and other vessels between Wentworth Point and Rydalmere.

The construction of two new bridges over Parramatta River will disrupt ferry services for months.Credit: Nick Moir

The proposed bridge at Camellia will result in closures of the river channel for four months, and the Wentworth Point bridge for up to three months.

Almost 21 hectares will be permanently required for the second stage of the project, including about six hectares of privately owned land. A further 13 hectares are expected to be needed during construction, including the temporary use of land from about seven privately owned properties.

The light rail line will have 14 stops and end at the Carter Street high-rise development next to Olympic Park. An 8.5-kilometre walking and cycling path will be built parallel to the tram corridor.

The government committed $602 million to start building the second stage in the budget in June, ending several years of doubt about whether it would press ahead.

The budget also revealed that the cost of the first stage of the line from Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD had blown out by $475 million to $2.875 billion.

Lobby group Business Western Sydney called on both the government and opposition to commit to fully funding the second stage ahead of the state election in March.

“Communities along the Parramatta River such as Wentworth Point and Melrose Park will be expecting a crystal-clear commitment from candidates in the upcoming election,” executive director David Borger said.

The Liberal-held electorate of Parramatta will be one of the battleground seats at the election, after a change to electoral boundaries reduced the party’s margin.

Transport Minister David Elliott said the second stage would provide a much-needed public transport link between greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsula. “Labor has refused to commit to the Parramatta light rail stage two project, despite calls from the local community and the NSW government investing $602.4 million in June,” he said.

But Labor transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen said the government had let down communities like Wentworth Point, Camellia and Melrose Park.

“Now they will be waiting until 2031 before they get a transport service even though they will be getting massive population growth,” she said.

Parramatta's Labor lord mayor Donna Davis said a five-year delay for such an important project would have serious consequences for the housing and development planned along the light rail corridor.

“Major precincts such as Melrose Park are being rezoned to higher densities to potentially accommodate over 20,000 new residents once fully redeveloped. Those new residents are rightly expecting transport links that connect them to work and study,” she said.

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