The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the Premier’s focus on a CBD metro rail as a priority infrastructure project for the state, but said there was a long way to go to restore investor faith in infrastructure planning and delivery in NSW.
“There is no doubt that Sydney needs a major expansion of its public transport network and a CBD metro rail would provide a centrepiece for this, but there is too much uncertainty around long term infrastructure planning in NSW,” said NSW Executive Director Ken Morrison.
“A CBD metro would provide vital support for the internationally significant Barangaroo site, the CBD and future urban renewal at White Bay.
“We would encourage Infrastructure Australia to support this project in addition to other nationally significant projects for the state.
“However high capacity public transport to the North West is also a high priority. We cannot build new communities in the north west without providing transport to them.”
The Property Council’s submission to Infrastructure Australia listed rail access to the North West and the West as the state’s top two infrastructure priorities, but also called for better governance arrangements for determining infrastructure priorities and their delivery.
“Currently the investment community has little faith in transport announcements in NSW.
“There have been too many infrastructure u-turns over too many years for this to be otherwise.
“Clearly the mini-budget and release of Infrastructure Australia’s priority list will be critical steps in setting a new forward path.
“But there must also be structural improvements to infrastructure planning and delivery in NSW, and a strong link to the state’s growth needs.
“These decisions need to be made in the context of a long term transport plan for Sydney and the existing planning frameworks are clearly inadequate.”
Media contact: Ken Morrison, NSW Executive Director on 02 9336 6906 or 0412 233 715.
Attachment: Property Council priorities provided to Infrastructure Australia
Attachment: Property Council of Australia infrastructure priorities for NSW provided to Infrastructure Australia
Rank |
Project |
Estimated Cost (if available) |
1 |
Rail Link to North West Sydney (Either North West Metro Rail or North West Heavy Rail link with associated network improvements) |
$12 billion (metro rail) |
2 |
Western Metro or Western Fast Rail |
$10 billion |
3 |
M4 East and M4 to Botany Tunnel |
Not determined |
4 |
Pacific Highway Upgrades |
$3.9 billion (to 2009) |
5 |
F3 to M2/M7 Freeway Connection |
$1.6 billion* |
6 |
Rail Freight (Moorebank Intermodal Facility and further investment in South West and Northern Sydney rail freight corridors) |
Not determined |
7 |
Newcastle Port access (Liverpool Ranges Rail Tunnel) |
$167 – $465 million |
8 |
Maldon Dombarton line (completion of Port Kembla Rail Freight Line) |
$300 million |
9 |
F3 to Branxton Freeway Connection |
$1.2 billion |
10 |
CBD and Inner Sydney Light Rail System |
$1.73 billion* |
11 |
M5 East Duplication |
Not determined |
