3 October 2012
The State Infrastructure Strategy released today is clearly aimed at lifting the productivity of NSW by taking a pragmatic approach to infrastructure projects says the Urban Taskforce.
It is pleasing to see the amount of detail in the strategy and the focus on cost benefit to ensure money is spent where it has the best impact, says Urban taskforce CEO Chris Johnson.
The most important project is the WestConnex where the M4 is connected to the M5 in a manner that helps commuters travelling from Western Sydney get into the city while also improving the flow of freight in containers from Port Botany out to Western Sydney.
Importantly, the strategy raises the potential for urban renewal along the new infrastructure routes and it is critical that this is reflected in the Metropolitan Strategy, due to be released by the planning Minister in the near future. Communities will need to see a positive future for their neighbourhoods as a trade-off for the new infrastructure. They will also need to take a ˜whole of city approach to change.
Another interesting proposal is to extend a rail line towards Maroubra as part of a renewal of that peninsular. Generally, there are low densities in that area and a number of government owned sites that could lead to urban renewal.
The next step for Sydneys development will be to match the pragmatics of the Infrastructure Strategy with the big picture plans of the Long Term Transport Master Plan and the soon to be released Metropolitan Strategy. Clearly all of these plans need to work together.
