- Olympic Corridor Light Rail to connect Parramatta with Rosehill, Sydney Olympic Park, Rhodes and Strathfield
- Sports fans to get from Parramatta to Stadium Australia in half the time
- Light Rail link to move 5000 passengers per hour in both directions through the Corridor: 40 light rail services replaces 200 buses on the roads
- 190,000 people (with a further 70,000 achievable through higher densities) to be living in the Olympic Corridor by 2036
- Private-sector development along the Light Rail route to cover much of the cost of the project
Arthur Stanley
SYDNEY sports fans will be huge winners under a game-changing transport plan for big business to help fund a new Light Rail project that aims to bring trams to the front gates of Stadium Australia and connect Greater Western Sydney.
A new report examining the light rail route along the “Olympic Corridor” has encouraged the private sector and NSW Government to work together to deliver a precinct that is expected to house more than one third of all new jobs and almost 20 per cent of new dwellings in Western Sydney by 2036.
The report by Deloitte and respected urban planner, Rod Simpson, Restarting Sydney’s Heart – Light Rail the Engine of Change, examines the opportunities that a light rail line along Sydney’s Olympic Corridor would deliver. The Olympic Corridor begins at Westmead and connects the burgeoning Parramatta area with Rosehill, Camellia, Olympic Park, Rhodes and Strathfield.
The report was commissioned by the WestLine Partnership, comprising some of Sydney’s leaders in business, government, sport and development.
The NSW Government is currently considering four proposed light rail options as Stage 1 of the Western Sydney Light Rail Network.
At the same time, the Government is also considering options to invest in the future of Sydney’s Olympic stadium as part of a $600 million commitment to improve sporting stadiums in the city.
Improving transport to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct is one of the key commitments of the Stadium Redevelopment Project.
The Light Rail route through the Olympic Corridor would cut travelling time in half from Paramatta or Strathfield to Sydney Olympic Park. The new Light Rail link would be a massive boost for Sydney sports fans, who would get to and from events at Stadium Australia much faster and with fewer travelling issues.
WestLine spokesperson and Chair of the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, Christopher Brown, AM, said the Deloitte report indicated that the creation of two light rail lines – one from Rosehill to Carlingford and the other from Westmead to Strathfield/Rhodes along the Olympic Corridor, was not only cost-effective, but would also unlock the potential of one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.
“The report findings show that there is a strong argument for the route along the Olympic Corridor, which will stimulate the growth of more smart jobs, homes and development,” he said.
“This is not a case of one or the other – we feel that the people of Western Sydney deserve both this line and the other line to Carlingford. This report not only reaffirms that view, but also reveals that it could potentially be self-funded by the private sector.
“Essentially, this is a two-for-one deal for the NSW Government. A deal that would add thousands of jobs and homes, and provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to totally re-think Sydney.”
Under the proposal outlined in the Deloitte report, the Light Rail line along the Olympic Corridor could be funded through a voluntary contribution model for the private sector. This involves land owners who elect to take up density uplift incentives along the Light Rail route putting up money for the project.
It is a similar approach to the one successfully adopted to fund the recent Homebush Bay Bridge development between Rhodes and Wentworth Point.
“The Olympic Corridor is an often over-looked region when it comes to transport infrastructure, but over the next 20 years, with the right support, it is expected to house more than one third of all new jobs and almost 20 per cent of new dwellings,” Mr Brown said.
“For this, and many other factors outlined in the report, it can no longer be ignored.”
The Deloitte report highlights that by 2036 more than 190,000 people are expected to be living in the Olympic Corridor, putting significant pressure on the existing transport network.
It highlights that renewal and revitalisation of the Olympic Corridor catalysed by a Light Rail link provides the opportunity to connect established knowledge, business, health, recreation and cultural precincts in Parramatta, Strathfield and Sydney Olympic Park. At the same time, it will create new housing and employment, attracting new businesses and investment and improving urban productivity.
Mr Brown added that the WestLine Partnership had held positive talks with the NSW Government, NSW Opposition and other key stakeholders over the past three months and would continue to engage with these groups and the broader community to research the opportunities and issues that exist along the Olympic Corridor.
WestLine Partnership Members: Stadium Australia, Australian Turf Club, Billbergia, Dexus, Goodman Group, GPT Group, NRMA, Payce Consolidated, Accor, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Sekisui House, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Sydney Olympic Park Business Association, Sydney Business Chamber, City of Canada Bay, Auburn City Council, Western Sydney Stadium.
Supporters: AECOM, GIS, FDC, University of Western Sydney, Graf International, McCollough Robertson.
