Labor welcomes the Turnbull Government’s plan to build part of the new Western Sydney Rail Line project, first proposed by Labor in March 2015.
Federal and State Labor have long argued for a Western Sydney Rail Link with a North-South line to boost productivity and improve the quality of life of residents of the region.
Federal Labor has already committed funding to get the project started.
While it is pleasing the Turnbull and Berejiklian Coalition governments have finally recognised the need to build a line from St Marys to Badgerys Creek via the airport, their plan includes no link from the Macarthur region to the airport and for an extension to Rouse Hill in the north-west.
They should also commit to this important part of the project now and commence work as soon as possible. The longer the project is delayed, the more it will cost.
Labor also welcomes the Turnbull and Berejiklian governments’ acceptance of Labor’s insistence that the new line should be connected to the Western Sydney Airport from the day it opens in 2026.
The initial plan had passenger rail being connected years after the airport opened, which would have limited its potential to act as a catalyst for investment and job creation.
Thanks to the strong advocacy of the local community and local councils of the Western Sydney region, common sense has prevailed.
Developed properly, the Western Sydney Airport will be an economic game-changer for Western Sydney, creating thousands of jobs for the people of region, not just at the airport, but in associated industries.
But to achieve the project’s full potential, the people of Western Sydney must be able to access those jobs via reliable public transport.
Mr Foley said a State Labor Government would deliver the rail link faster because it would not build the Northern Beaches Mega Tunnel and would not waste $2.5 billion on stadiums.
“Our focus is Western Sydney,'' Mr Foley said
SUNDAY, 4 MARCH, 2018