Planning Approval lodged for North West Rail Link
The NSW Government today announced documents would be lodged with the Department of Planning for approval of the North West Rail Link, including eight stations and an extra 1000 commuter car parks, NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said.
A second industry briefing will be held this week to update Australian and international companies on the expanded plans for the rail link, and allow those key players to work closely with government on delivering the project.
The private sector will be called on to present innovative and exciting ways to deliver the North West Rail Link.
"The North West Rail Link is the biggest transport infrastructure project in this state since the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – and the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is absolutely committed to delivering on this," Mr O’Farrell said.
"We’ve delivered on our commitment to start geotechnical drilling this year, and now as promised, we provide the plans. The people of North West Sydney can rest assured this rail line will be built, with $314 million allocated in this year’s State Budget alone.
"The NSW Government is also delivering more transport infrastructure projects including the South West Rail Link and Northern Sydney Freight Line.
"After extensive community consultation, we’ve heard the North West community’s requests for additional stations and more commuter car parking, so they have been included in the documents lodged for planning approval," he said.
"The private sector now had the opportunity to present innovative ways of delivering the project.
"The NSW Government is looking forward to the private sector’s ideas to provide the very best outcome for the North West community, and the State. After extensive community consultation we know there is an appetite for the extra stops," he said.
The expanded North West Rail Link is likely to feature a four-kilometre futuristic elevated railway to be known as the Skytrain.
Ms Berejiklian said the rail link between Bella Vista and Rouse Hill was expected to be built above-ground on a Skytrain structure to minimise impact to roads and pathways, ensuring the local community was not dissected by the line.
"We believe this could be the best-value option and would mean improved community access and new local facilities like parklands and integrated cycleways along the route," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Major tunnelling construction work would start in 2014 on what will be the biggest transport infrastructure project in Sydney since the Harbour Bridge.
"The $7.5-$8.5 billion rail link is expected to deliver some CBD commuters travel time savings of up to three and a half hours a week – or 30 per cent.
"The projected travel time savings for North West residents commuting to Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, Chatswood and North Sydney are even bigger at more than 50 per cent," she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the project would change the way of life for families, businesses, workers and students in Sydney’s North West.
"They will spend less time stuck on buses or in their cars, and more time with their families and friends," she said.
"A commuter who now uses public transport between the Hills Centre and Town Hall Station is expected to save about 40 minutes a day by taking the North West Rail Link. That means they will have more than three hours a week to do something more worthwhile than sit on a bus."
Transport for NSW data also showed a commuter currently using public transport to get from Rouse Hill to St Leonards can expect to save more than 80 minutes a day, or seven hours a week.
"Importantly, the North West Rail Link will provide major time savings right across the day for people travelling to other parts of the North West as well as the important education and jobs centres at Macquarie Park, Chatswood and North Sydney," Ms Berejiklian said.
New figures from the North West Rail Link Project Team show the new line will support more than 16,200 jobs during construction and inject $25 billion into the NSW economy, she said.
"Importantly, the North West Rail Link is future-proofed and has been designed to allow for an extension of the line to cater for growth in the North West Growth Centre."
The population of the North West is expected to grow by more than 200,000 to more than 600,000 over the next 40 years. Planning approval will be sought for stations at Cudgegong Road, Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Norwest, Hills Centre, Castle Hill and Cherrybrook. The rail link will connect underground to Epping Station.
The project will link with Sydney’s CityRail network and fares will be determined in the same way as other fares on the network. More than 29 million customer trips a year are expected on the North West Rail Link within five years of opening.
Local MPs Dominic Perrottet (Castle Hill), David Elliott (Baulkham Hills), Ray Williams (Hawkesbury), Kevin Connolly (Riverstone), Bart Bassett (Londonderry) and Matt Kean (Hornsby) welcomed today’s announcement.
12 December 2011
