Parramatta light rail stage 2 wins planning approval

The next time mega star Taylor Swift hits town could mean fans arrive by light rail, with the second stage of the Parramatta network – to link the CBD to Sydney Olympic Park – granted approval.

The site of a light rail bridge to connect Melrose Park and Wentworth Point across the Parramatta River.

Parramatta light rail stage 2 – a 10km line which will connect Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park – is moving ahead, with planning approval granted for the game-changing mega project for western Sydney.

The approval comes as the state government invested $200m in the 2023-24 NSW Budget to expedite the project’s planning processes so construction can begin this term of parliament.

The second stage of the project will travel through dense population areas of Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

The extension will include 14 light rail stops that will provide infrastructure-deprived residents with a long-awaited public transport link and unlock future housing growth.

The approved light rail corridor includes alignment changes around Rydalmere that will make connections to the Rydalmere Ferry Wharf easier and improve travel times.

Parramatta light rail stage two runs to the densely-populated Sydney Olympic Park, which is also home to major sports and entertainment arenas.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said passengers would be able to travel from Sydney Olympic Park to Camellia in about 30 minutes, and on to the Parramatta CBD in another seven minutes.

Construction will be phased, with initial work to begin this year on a $602.4m, 320m public light rail and pedestrian bridge over Parramatta River, between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

The initial contract for works on the bridge is expected to be awarded this year and main construction work on the structure is expected to start in 2025.

The bridge will link Melrose Park and Wentworth Point, north and south of the river and will be the first significant bridge crossing over Parramatta River since the completion of the southbound Ryde Bridge in 1987, nearly 40 years ago.

Parramatta light rail will be part of Parramatta’s first tram network in over 80 years. Tram testing is under way on Parramatta light rail’s first stage between Carlingford and Westmead via the Parramatta CBD.

Ms Haylen said the project would give communities such as Wentworth Point the transport they had been promised.

The second stage is expected to serve almost 300,000 residents in the next 17 years.

“With around half of local residents and a third of local employees projected to live and work across the project corridor, this new track will serve a population of close to 280,000 by 2041,’’ she said.

Parramatta state Labor MP Donna Davis said the project would be a game changer for the way people moved around the city.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger welcomed the planning approval and said it complemented the heavy rail Metro.

“Stage two of the Parramatta light rail makes Sydney Metro West work by supporting the delivery of commuters from high density suburbs along the Parramatta River like Wentworth Point and Melrose Park.

“We would like to see funding allocated to Stage 2 of this transport initiative come up in the next budget.

“We will be encouraging the NSW Government to cement its construction timeline and the required funding allocation in the coming months.”

Originally published as Parramatta light rail stage 2 wins planning approval