The Federal Government is building on its recent $1 billion investment to protect the corridor for the South West Sydney Rail Extension by investing $32.5 million to map out other road and rail corridors across the city.
The government is spending $20 million on planning for three future programs:
- A preliminary business case for the New Cumberland Line
- A preliminary business case for T8 Airport & South and T2 Leppington and Inner West line upgrades
- The Outer South West Housing Enablement Development Program
A statement released yesterday from the office of Minister for Transport Catherine King said that the New Cumberland Line, which is building on the current Cumberland Line on the Sydney rail network, would provide an enhanced north west-south west rail connection, better linking Western Sydney’s major population centres.
Read more: Prime Minister pledges $1 billion to new Sydney Rail Line
The preliminary business case will provide the government with a road map for future investments in north-south rail links to improve public transport between Greater Parramatta, Fairfield, Bradfield and Liverpool.
Upgrades to the T8 Airport & South and T2 Leppington & Inner West rail lines will also be explored, to better connect Sydney’s south west to Parramatta and the harbour CBD.
The Preliminary Business Case will consider investments to upgrade existing rail networks and expand “fast, frequent and reliable rail services” into Sydney’s Outer South West.
To support this, the government’s Outer South West Housing Enablement Development Program component will support project development on future infrastructure initiatives that enable new housing and improve transport links in outer South West Sydney.
An additional $12.5 million will also be invested to develop Final Business Cases for both the Devonshire Link Road and Bradfield Metro Link Road, critical connections in the Western Sydney International Airport Precinct Road Network.
Investing in these business cases delivers on a high priority recommendation of the 2023 Western Sydney Transport Infrastructure Panel Independent Report.
When built, the Bradfield Metro Link Road will link Fifteenth Avenue, Badgerys Creek Road and the Eastern Ring Road. The Australian and NSW governments recently announced a $1 billion joint investment to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue.
Subject to finalisation of the scope, the three kilometre-long, 45 metre-wide road is expected to feature two traffic lanes and two dedicated bus lanes, as well as walking and cycling shared paths on both sides.
Minister Catherine King said: “We know a city’s public transport network always needs to evolve to keep pace with how people travel and where they want to go.
“Our new preliminary business cases on a New Cumberland Line and capacity upgrades on the existing network will provide a roadmap for future rail connections across the city.”
She pointed out that in the early 2010s, when the current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was Infrastructure Minister, he was commissioning studies on Sydney’s second airport.
“Today, that airport is nearing completion with freight flights due to start next year, with passenger flights not long after,” she said.
“City building takes time, but we know that careful, detailed planning leads to excellent results.”
