A freight rail connection between Port Botany and Western Sydney via the Southern Sydney Freight Line and a north-south passenger connection for Western Sydney Airport are among a collection of corridors identified in a draft report by the NSW Government.
The state on March 26 released a Western Sydney corridors summary report, with the aim of identifying and protecting the corridors that will be needed to “help establish the Western Sydney Parkland City”.
Four corridors have been identified for rail, or at least contain a rail component.
The first corridor is for the proposed North South Rail Line, which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull agreed to help develop on March 4. The line would connect to Sydney Trains Western Line near St Marys, and to the Main South line near Macarthur, and would pass through the new Western Sydney Airport.
Sections of tunnel would need to be used at either end of the line: between St Marys and just south of the M4 Motorway, and between Oran Park and Macarthur. The report identifies land for future train stations at Oran Park and Narellan.
The second corridor would be for a South West Rail Link Extension, which would connect the South West Rail Link – opened in 2015 – to the proposed North South Rail Line at Bringelly.
The third corridor identified for protection is the Outer Sydney Orbital road-rail corridor, running all the way from Box Hill in the north, to Menangle in the south. Its protection would be to support integrated transport options to support “unprecedented growth” throughout Sydney’s west, the report states.
The fourth corridor is for the Western Sydney Freight Line, a future dedicated rail freight connection between Port Botany and Western Sydney via the existing Southern Sydney Freight Line. The line would extend between the existing freight Line at Leightonfield and Villawood, to the Outer Sydney Orbital’s freight rail corridor.
“Western Sydney is at the forefront of the biggest infrastructure delivery program in history and for once, we are in the fortunate position of being able to plan and deliver the roads and rail lines this future city needs, first,” state minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said.
“Securing land for this massive transport infrastructure program will set Western Sydney up for success, open up new opportunities and enable us to effectively link our future communities, connect residents to hundreds of thousands of new jobs.”
Roads minister Melinda Pavey said that the new Western Sydney transport links would provide the freight and logistics industries with better access to the future “Aerotropolis”, the urban development that will surround the future airport.
“Building a new city doesn’t happen overnight, and what’s most important is we open up the conversation with residents, community groups, and businesses right across these crucial corridors to inform final alignments,” Pavey said.
Sydney Business Chamber Western Sydney director David Borger said securing the corridors would be important for the future of the proposed Western Parkland City.
“Even though investments into the construction of these road and transport corridors are not being made immediately, it is essential to plan for the future growth of the region,” Borger said.
“Reserving land for these vital transport corridors closely aligns with the Draft Future Transport 2056 Strategy and the Greater Sydney Commission’s plan for Western Sydney.”
The public will be able to give feedback on the corridors online up until May 18, or at a community consultation session.