The City of Sydney has called on the Berejiklian Government to review the viability of the controversial WestConnex Motorway project, saying newly-announced rail projects will undermine the value of the toll road.
According to a report in the AFR, the major council has recently stepped up its opposition to the WestConnex project, after the state confirmed it would work with the Federal Government on a rail line to the future Western Sydney Airport, in addition to the Western Sydney Metro project to connect the Sydney CBD to Parramatta.
The council is reportedly arguing the number of commuters who should opt to use the new public transport links will cut into the forecast 548,000 daily trips expected on WestConnex by 2027.
It therefore believes the Berejiklian Government should reconsider the WestConnex project altogether.
The City of Sydney has previously called on the NSW Government to cancel the project, and focus more on shifting car demand onto public transport.
The City has also suggested alternate road projects.
“The City of Sydney is calling on the NSW Government for an immediate halt on construction of the M5 tunnel and a complete new business case and design review of the proposed M4–M5 link (stage 3),” the council said late last year.
“The secrecy around the WestConnex project, hidden behind a private corporation that is exempt from public oversight, must be overturned.
“The state government could save billions of dollars by scrapping plans for WestConnex stage 3 and avoid disrupting local communities by decreasing car use and properly connecting freight movements to and from Port Botany.”