Western Sydney Freight Line – Stages 1 and 2

Background

Freight is the backbone of the NSW economy, ensuring you get what you need when you need it. From that pair of jeans you bought online, to your daily cup of coffee – it is all made possible through the NSW freight network.

The freight industry in our state is worth $66 billion to our economy every year and provides an essential service to communities and businesses across NSW.

The Western Sydney Freight Line will be a proposed dedicated freight rail line connection between the Western Parkland City and Port Botany.

With the aim of reducing congestion on local roads, this new freight line will allow the transport of goods by rail across Greater Sydney, linking growing industrial areas and distribution centres including the announced Intermodal terminal site in the Mamre Road Precinct.

The new freight rail line will also free up the Main West Rail Line to allow more passenger services over time.

The need for a dedicated freight rail line between Western Sydney and Port Botany was identified as part of the NSW Freight and Port Plan (2018-2023).

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Western Sydney Freight Line

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Current status                                                   

Transport for NSW is working to protect the Western Sydney Freight Line in two stages:

Stage 1 – (Now protected) – Connects from the future Outer Sydney Orbital near Luddenham and runs to Horsley Park at the M7 Motorway. In June 2020, the NSW Government announced protection of a section of Stage 1 and the Western Sydney Intermodal Terminal within the Mamre Road Precinct.

Stage 2 – (Under investigation) – Provides a freight link from Stage 1 near the M7 Motorway to the Southern Sydney Freight Line near Leightonfield. Transport for NSW together with other Government Agencies and key stakeholders is progressing with early planning to identify corridor options for discussion with key stakeholders.

Landowner information

In June 2020 the NSW Government confirmed the alignments of the following future transport links in Western Sydney:

• the North South Rail Line and South West Rail Link Extension
• the Western Sydney Freight Line

Transport for NSW has been in contact with landowners affected by the confirmed future transport  links.

To find out if a property is affected by a future transport link visit the NSW Government’s planning portal and search for a property address. Updated maps will be available from 8 July, 2020.

All land within a confirmed future transport link has been rezoned to SP2 Infrastructure – Reserved Infrastructure Corridor.

Property and land impacts

The way landowners currently use their property or land can continue. If landowners wish to change how they use their property, then the rezoning might impact that.

If they need to apply for development consent, 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.

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 with the market value of the property or land assessed at the time of acquisition, and 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 for future acquisition.

Owner-initiated acquisition in cases of hardship information 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 provided as a support person to all landowners. The Personal Manager will act as landowners’ primary point of contact.

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.

Get in touch

Contact one of our Personal Managers.

Additional information

Further future transport link information is available including:

• Frequently Asked Questions on Acquisition
• Frequently Asked Questions North South Rail Line and South West Rail Link Extension (DOCX, 16.96 KB)

Will the final corridor affect me?

Gazettal and rezoning of the Western Sydney Freight Line – Stage 1 has no immediate impact on the use of your property or land and existing land uses can continue.

However, any development proposed over $200,000 will need to be referred to Transport for NSW for agreement.

There is no need for the government to acquire your property until close to the time the transport infrastructure is required.

Benefits of early corridor protection

Protecting land today for future transport links will:

• Guarantee land needed for future transport links is available when needed.
• Reduce project costs and disruption on local communities.
• Improve customer benefits of projects without restrictions of future development.
• Reduce impacts to local communities by providing certainty of the location of future transport links.

More information

• Call: 1800 837 511
• Email: corridors@transport.nsw.gov.au
• Write to:

Corridors Investigation Office
PO Box K659
Haymarket 1240

Background information

• Future Transport
• Discussion Paper about proposed protection in parts of Western Sydney
• Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment (PDF, 7.74 MB)

Documents