UDIA NSW has long called for additional stations along the existing Metro West route and today’s announcement by the NSW Government is both timely and welcome.
“UDIA’s research, together with our work over many years with key landowners in the Camelia-Rosehill precinct, show that adding more railway stations to Metro West was always possible without major cost impacts and would both attract more people to the area and improve their lives,” said Steve Mann, CEO, UDIA NSW.
The expanded route and station selection is a game changer for Parramatta and the Central River City and delivers on the Government’s commitment to ensuring the accessibility benefits are maximized together with travel time savings.
“Historically NSW has not taken full advantage of city shaping opportunities for key transport infrastructure in Greater Sydney, instead it has focused on siloed business cases for transport with a focus on travel time savings. Cities will benefit so much more from being built around access,” said Mr Mann. Inadequate public transport is evident across the West, with on average 1 rail station per 30,000 people in Western Sydney, compared to 1 every 15,000 people in the Eastern suburbs.
UDIA also welcomes the Government’s formal announcement today of their TOD Program which provides further key details (from the version that was prematurely uploaded during the week), including:
• The creation of a State Significant Development (SSD) pathway for proposals of $60m or more and requiring construction to start within two years of approval sends a clear signal the Government is up for the challenge to deliver these tier 1 precincts quickly.
• Inclusion of a target of 15% for affordable housing and the Government committing $520 million for community infrastructure, including road upgrades, active transport and quality public open spaces will ensure these precincts deliver generational community benefits.
“This week the Government has made multiple announcements focused on supporting more housing across Sydney and the regions. While more work is needed to get the final settings rights, UDIA is ready to work with Government to meet this challenge.”
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Additional Key Facts:
UDIA’s 2020 submission on the Sydney Metro West Environmental Impact Statement recommended Government provide a metro station at Camellia-Rosehill and at least one other station on the route to maximise public transport access to the growth precinct and unlock new housing.
A Metro station, which, at 1.6kms from Parramatta, provides the ideal location for Parramatta’s medium-term growth and the opportunity to really extend the CBD exposure to the River from 1km to 3km. The clear benefits are that it does not extend the length of the tunnel, avoids an evacuation safety exit needed because of the current 7km distance to Homebush and will alleviate demand pressures at Parramatta.
UDIA commissioned Professor David Levinson from University of Sydney to produce the ‘Governing for Access’ Report, the general theme of which is that rather than the historic approach of only focus on time savings, we should be planning our transport around accessibility (to other people, places, jobs etc).
This would lead to Sydney becoming a more desirable and convenient global city with the following positive outcomes:
– shorter commute lengths
– greater public and active transport mode shares
– higher employment and incomes
– greater productivity.
Media Enquiries:
Deanna Lane 0416 295 898 or dlane@udiansw.com.au