Sydney rail projects need to meet broader infrastructure needs: Chris Johnson

EXPERT OBSERVATION

The recent announcement by the NSW leader of the Opposition that Metro West rail will be preferred over other lines misses the point that the full network for Sydney is required.

NSW Opposition Leader, Luke Foley, has announced that he will fast track the Metro West rail if elected at the state election and cancel the Sydenham to Bankstown rail line.

But Sydney needs both rail links as part of a broader infrastructure network for the city.

As Sydney moves from a city of five million people to eight million over the next 40 years the city will need to shift to public transport with greater housing densities around railway stations.

Ultimately the city will need a metro rail network similar to London’s with a circle line and a central line.

The Urban Taskforce has proposed a structure for Sydney’s metro based on a central line that requires West Metro as an important link but we have also proposed a circle line that carries the North West rail through North Sydney and along the Sydenham to Bankstown line ultimately to the proposed Western Sydney airport.

Clearly there will need to be greater densities around railway stations on this network and it is unhelpful for the Opposition Leader to call this ‘shoehorning an extra 100,000 people into high-rise towers’.

The Metro West link is probably more important than the Sydenham to Bankstown line in the short term as the current western rail line is approaching capacity.

It is positive that the Opposition is committed to this important piece of infrastructure.

The Urban Taskforce encourages all political parties to support new metro rail infrastructure in the lead up to the next state election but we are very concerned about rhetoric from both major parties that is against the development of apartments near transport modes.

Chris Johnson is the chief executive office of the Urban Taskforce.