The NSW Government’s announcement about potentially extending the Sydney Metro from Bankstown to Liverpool has been welcomed by developer lobby group Urban Taskforce.
The State Government recently revealed the locations of Sydney’s new metro railway stations as well as plans to fast-track the delivery of Australia’s biggest public transport project. The first tunnel boring machine is expected to be in the ground before the end of 2018 on Stage 2 of Sydney Metro, bringing metro rail under Sydney Harbour and the CBD.
The new Sydney Metro is expected to help boost the capacity of its rail network by 100,000 people every hour, servicing the growing global city for generations to come.
The formal planning process for Sydney Metro City & Southwest project has begun: a State Significant Infrastructure Application will be lodged later this week confirming the metro route; new metro stations have been confirmed for Crows Nest, Victoria Cross (North Sydney), Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt St (near Park Street) and underground at Central; and a potential extension of metro rail to Liverpool, which could cut travel times to the CBD by up to 15 minutes and reduce crowding on the existing T1 Western Line and T2 South Line, is being considered.
Under the new Sydney Metro scheme, Barangaroo would get its own metro station. Image: NSW Government
The NSW Government is also conducting ongoing investigations into a proposed metro station at either Waterloo or Sydney University.
Construction of Stage 1 of Sydney Metro – the $8.3 billion Sydney Metro Northwest – is more than half-complete and due to start passenger services in 2019 with Sydney Metro City & Southwest expected to open in 2024.
Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson comments that they are very supportive of the Government’s plans to investigate the option of extending the Sydney Metro service to Liverpool. He noted that Liverpool was growing fast and a better rail connection to the Sydney CBD will be an excellent driver of further development in Liverpool.
According to Johnson, the nomination of Crows Nest as the metro station must lead to the potential for more development around this station and in the corridor linking to St Leonards Station. As there are three local government areas around St Leonards Station, the development of the area must become a Priority Precinct controlled by the State Government possibly through the Greater Sydney Commission. The Victoria Cross Station in North Sydney should also be seen as a stimulus for more development within walking distance of the station.
Urban Taskforce further urges the State Government to resolve the option between Sydney University and Waterloo for the proposed metro station. While the Sydney University proposal has many positives particularly with student travel, Urban Taskforce believes the opportunity to redevelop the Redfern Waterloo social housing precinct as a new mixed use precinct with a variety of housing types would be accelerated by the construction of a new station.
