- Western Sydney Light Rail to be fast-tracked, with work to start in 2018
- Trams to link Sydney Olympic Park with Parramatta and Strathfield
- Tram stop planned near gates of Stadium Australia
- Fans to get to events in half the time from Parramatta and Strathfield
Arthur Stanley and Julian Keith
LIGHT RAIL is coming to Stadium Australia.
Sports and entertainment fans will be big winners following the NSW Government’s confirmation that the Western Sydney Light Rail service will be fast-tracked and will link the city’s major events precinct of Sydney Olympic Park with Westmead, Parramatta, Camellia, Carlingford and Strathfield.
Fans will get to Stadium Australia faster and easier than ever before when the Light Rail routes are introduced – with the Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park and Strathfield to Sydney Olympic Park travelling times cut in half.
An industry briefing at Rosehill Gardens on Monday heard that the Government was committed to a “fast build” on the Western Sydney Light Rail service, with work to commence in 2018.
A Light Rail tram stop is planned near the gates of Stadium Australia at Sydney Olympic Park – as well as at Westmead, Parramatta, Camellia, Carlingford and Strathfield – to integrate with existing public transport services.
The Light Rail announcement is just one of six major projects that promise to transform the experience at Sydney’s Olympic stadium.
The others are:
- ANZ STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT (into a world-class rectangular stadium).
- WESTCONNEX MOTORWAY (connecting Sydney CBD and Parramatta in one continuous motorway with connection ramps at Hill Road leading to & from Stadium Australia).
- ENERGISED SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK VILLAGE (for great atmosphere pre and post events).
- NEW URBAN PRECINCTS (bringing colour & energy to Olympic Corridor).
- $20m NEW HOME FOR NSW BLUES (High-Performance Centre & Training Field next to Stadium Australia, with NSWRL moving out of congested Moore Park).
The NSW Government has committed $1 billion to the Western Sydney Light Rail, with private enterprise to partially fund the project in return for developing communities through the Olympic Corridor – tipped to be the fastest growing region in Australia over the next 15 years.
The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said: “We’re pressing go on {Western Sydney} Light Rail . . . creating a new tram network for the west.
“This project will provide frequent and reliable links to the great precincts of Sydney like Westmead Hospital, The University of Western Sydney, Parramatta CBD, the Sydney Olympic Park sporting hub and Strathfield while also rejuvenating Camellia. The project will be a chance for Western Sydney businesses to get on board and benefit, all while creating hundreds of jobs.
“I want Parramatta Light Rail to be a project all about people, whether it’s Eels or Wanderers fans using it to go to games, punters at Rosehill, event crowds at Olympic Park or students at Western Sydney Uni,” Mr Constance said.
2016 Year of Blockbusters
A huge sporting year is unfolding at Stadium Australia, with all eyes on the #EasterFootyFest featuring two of the biggest games on the NRL calendar – Rabbitohs v Bulldogs on Good Friday and Tigers v Eels on Easter Monday.
Sydney’s sporting #WeekOfBlockbusters is scheduled for the first week of June, with State of Origin I at Stadium Australia on Wednesday 1 June to be followed by Socceroos v Greece on Saturday 4 June. The #WeekOfBlockbusters will coincide with Vivid Sydney, the annual festival of Light, Music & Ideas, and will attract thousands of visitors to the city.
The Socceroos v Greece game adds to a 2016 Stadium Australia Event Calendar with a distinct international flavor. It follows the Liverpool Legends game earlier in the year and with Bledisloe Cup (Saturday 20 August) and the College Football Sydney Cup clash between the University of California Golden Bears v University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (Saturday 27 August) to come later in the season.
The NSW Blues will host two State of Origin games at their home ground Stadium Australia this season – with Origin III scheduled for Wednesday 13 July.
Get a 2-game Origin package here.
You can guarantee a premium seat to every event at the Stadium by becoming an Stadium Australia Member. To enquire about Stadium Australia Membership, click here.
Or, impress and indulge your clients with Stadium Australia’s Official Hospitality packages. Choose between a Private Suite, Zone Box or a table of 10 in our Trophy Room to entertain your important clients. Enquiries here.
