The joint study between the Federal and NSW Governments into options for a rail link to service Sydney’s proposed second airport at Badgerys Creek must join the major sites for development in Sydney now and into the future, says the Urban Taskforce.
“The new airport for Western Sydney must be connected by a rapid rail system to the Sydney CBD in order to maximise the success of the airport. Studies show that it doesn’t matter how far away the airport is from the CBD, it matters how long it takes to get from the airport to the CBD,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “It is therefore good news that the State and Federal Governments are undertaking a study to explore options for the rail link.”
“One option that should be investigated is to connect existing and future large development sites that are likely to occur over the next few decades so that the rail system could also support proposed development. Sites that could be connected would be Liverpool, Parramatta, Camelia, Sydney Olympic Park, the Bays Precinct and Barangaroo. Each of these sites could become precincts for increased density, delivering housing and employment with some form of contribution towards the new railway.”
“It is important that when investing in new public transport infrastructure in Sydney that significant new density is encouraged along the route. The NSW Government should examine a range of special sites along the route that could become new urban centres in the future, and provide additional housing and employment opportunities for Sydneysiders.”
