The Western Sydney Business Chamber applauds the signing of contracts to build the first stage of the Parramatta Light Rail following years of advocacy for this important public transport project.
“The start of construction of the Parramatta Light Rail is one of the strongest signals that government has finally recognised the need to invest in new public transport infrastructure in Western Sydney to improve connectivity within the region not just link us to the Sydney CBD,” David Borger, Executive Director of the Western Sydney Business Chamber said.
“This project will not only be a catalyst for investment but will bridge communities together and connect people to other forms of public transport, such as the heavy rail and the soon-to-come Metro West.
“Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 will showcase that the ‘west is best’ with all the lessons learnt from other light rail projects.
“Other light rail projects including the Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and the Sydney CBD, have all influenced the structure of the tenders and the need to minimise the impact of construction as much as humanly possible on key precincts like Church Street,” Mr Borger said.
“Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 is the first of what I hope will be many down payments on a public transport network that connects our emerging Central City of Parramatta with its surrounding suburbs and key employment, cultural and entertainment precincts.
“Whether it is gliding up Parramatta’s ‘Eat Street’ to the new Western Sydney Stadium or linking people to the new Powerhouse Museum, the light rail will be a new experience for the growing population and workforce of Parramatta that will only make the city a more attractive destination to live, work and play,” he said.
Mr Borger said Stage 1 should only be the beginning of the Parramatta Light Rail network and encouraged the NSW Government to release the business case for Stage 2 that would link Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park through Rydalmere, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.
“If there is any lesson we’ve learnt in Sydney, it is that we need to keep building public transport to improve the connectivity between our communities and reduce the impact of road congestion.
“Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is a critical next step in the Western Sydney public transport story and the NSW Government needs to reveal its plans for this next stage before the State Election in March,” Mr Borger said.
He congratulated Downer and CPB Contractors for being awarded the $840 million major contract to build the light rail system as a joint venture, and the Great River City Light Rail consortium, including Transdev and CAF Rail Australia, for being awarded the $536 million contract to supply and operate the network and build the depot, light rail stops and power systems.
