With its population expected to grow to over 300,000 people by 2036, Cumberland Council is calling on the NSW Government for better public transport – including a Metro Station at Silverwater.
Although Silverwater falls in the City of Parramatta Council area, Cumberland Council has urged the State Government to consider an additional Metro Station in the suburb.
In a submission to the Sydney Metro Independent Review, Council put forward a number of suggestions on how the “future needs” of the booming local community can be supported.
Councillor Helen Hughes said a Silverwater Metro Station would help the area enormously.
“A station at Silverwater would help alleviate some parking at Lidcombe and even though it’s recognised that it’s close to the area, Silverwater does affect Cumberland Council in different ways because you do have people who travel across frequently,” she said.
“It’s not like you need a passport from one LGA to another, so something at Silverwater would help certainly the Regents Park enormously.”
Hughes added that there is currently minimal public transport going to Silverwater and that the additional Metro Station would also benefit those who commute to the area for work.
“It would not only assist the residents but a lot of employees in the Silverwater area, as a result there would be a roll-on effect of assisting the residents and the community as a whole,” she said.
Although Camelia had been suggested by some western Sydney business leaders as a potential stop, Council said the current alignment between Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta is closer to Silverwater.
Cr Glenn Elmore said that it would be “very disappointing” if the Metro West doesn’t go ahead.
“We really need this Sydney Metro project to go ahead, the transport system in western Sydney has been neglected for many, many years and now it’s come to a stage where the T1 line that comes in from Penrith and goes all the way to Hornsby is at capacity,” he said.
“I do understand Camellia is probably not an ideal place for a second station box because we’re 2km from Parramatta, there’s already a light rail going in from Parramatta through Camellia and up to Carlingford.
“I think the proposal that Council’s put forward about a station at Silverwater is probably a priority.”
However, Council said they would only support the Silverwater Metro Station if does not significantly delay the delivery and commencement of Sydney Metro West between Westmead and Sydney CBD.
Cumberland Council will also make its submission to the NSW Parliament Inquiry into the current and future public transport needs in western Sydney.
Among the other recommendations was the reinstatement of the direct rail services to the Sydney CBD from Berala and Regents Park, as well as an extension of the Parramatta Light Rail to Lidcombe.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.