Outer Sydney Orbital Stage 1 corridor investigation

Corridor profile

The NSW Government is planning for the long-term transport needs of Western Sydney by identifying and protecting a corridor of land for future transport infrastructure.

The Outer Sydney Orbital corridor will provide for a connection between Box Hill in the north and the Hume Motorway near Menangle in the south.

In the future, there will be further investigations to connect the Illawarra and the Central Coast.

Landowner information

To find out if a property is affected by a future transport link visit the NSW Government’s planning portal and search under the property address. 

Property and land impacts

The way landowners currently use their property or land can continue, despite the corridor being identified across the land. If landowners wish to change how they use their property, then they will need to apply for development consent, and some matters may now need to be referred to Transport for NSW for review by the consent authority prior to any approval being granted.

This may mean that certain developments will be prohibited.

Further information can be found on the ‘Frequently asked Questions for landowners in confirmed future transport links'.

Acquisition of land

There is no need for Transport for NSW to acquire land until close to the time the transport infrastructure is required. In the meantime, landowners can continue to live in and use their land.

We acknowledge that this may impact landowners short and long-term planning and property decisions.

Landowners can contact us at any time if they would like to talk about their personal circumstances and whether they would like Transport for NSW to acquire their property earlier.

When land is required, all acquisitions will be under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

The property valuation and acquisition process will be fair, consistent and transparent. The market value of the property or land will be assessed at the time of acquisition, as if the land is not affected by the future transport link.

For more information on the property acquisition process please visit the NSW Government’s property acquisition website.

Owner initiated acquisition

Landowners have an opportunity under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) to apply for early acquisition before the land is required for future transport infrastructure projects.

To apply for early acquisition, landowners must be able to show that they would suffer ‘hardship’ (as that term is defined in the Just Terms Act) if the acquisition of their land is delayed.

Eligible landowners may choose to begin this request at any time once their land has been designated as being in a corridor for future acquisition.

Information on owner-initiated acquisition in cases of hardship is available on the NSW Government’s property acquisition website including:

• Owner-initiated acquisition in cases of hardship fact sheet
• Owner-initiated acquisition in cases of hardship minimum requirements
• Owner initiated acquisition hardship application form

Landowner support

Transport for NSW has been in contact with affected landowners since March 2018. We will continue to stay in touch with landowners as future transport link infrastructure projects are developed and before the acquisition process commences.

A Personal Manager will be available as a support person to all landowners. 

Early engagement and ongoing support from the Personal Manager will assist landowners in having a clear understanding of the acquisition process and the options available to them.

This will ensure property owners make informed decisions, tailored to their unique circumstances.

Further landowner resources are available on the NSW Government’s property acquisition website.

Key benefits

• A major transport link between the North West and South West Growth Areas, connecting with the planned Western Sydney Airport and future employment lands.
• Certainty for communities and land use planners to enable future impacts to be minimised
• Support for growing communities, businesses and the creation of new jobs in Western Sydney.  
• Allow for freight to move efficiently and safely.

Corridor update:

Community feedback has helped inform the following changes (as announced 22 June 2018): 

• Continue with the previously gazetted 1951 corridor for the Bells Line of Road Castlereagh Connection.    

• Relinquish the section of previously exhibited Bells Line of Road corridor from Castlereagh to Kurrajong Heights.   

• Provide for a future tunnel of approximately 10 kilometres from north of Cobbitty Road, Cobbitty to south-east of Cawdor Road, Cawdor to minimise the impact of the Outer Sydney Orbital on communities at Cobbitty, Brownlow Hill, Grasmere and Ellis Lane.    

• Relinquish the section of the Outer Sydney Orbital north of Richmond Road while continuing to work with the Department of Planning and Environment and local councils on future options, with a view of mitigating any further impact on homes.  

Following further technical investigations, the rail loop through the Dunheved Industrial area is now not required and has been removed from the corridor. As part of this investigation, freight rail connections have been refined to enable improved access between T1 Western Rail Line, the Outer Sydney Orbital  Corridor and future Western Sydney Freight Line.

Landowners within the Dunheved industrial area have been notified of the changes to the corridor alignment.

See map (PDF, 4.21 MB) of the revised corridor across the Dunheved and Werrington area.