Now or never: Leaders in western Sydney are urging the Federal Government to get on the right track when it comes to high-speed rail.
High-speed rail stations in Parramatta and at the new Western Sydney International Airport must be a priority, according to a growing alliance of government and industry leaders in the west.
Due to present a business case for investment in stage one of a high-speed rail link from Newcastle to Sydney by the end of the year, the federal High Speed Rail Authority has suggested the key Sydney interchange will be Central Station.
Stations at Parramatta and Western Sydney Airport will only be considered as part of a future stage.
But local representatives believe that’s not good enough, saying the western Sydney stops must be included in stage one – it’s “now or never”.
Tom Nance, Western Sydney University’s Director for Partnerships and Advocacy, said western Sydney’s inclusion in stage one of the high-speed rail project is of primary importance.
“High speed rail needs to serve the whole of Sydney, not just the east. Due to its geographic and strategic location, Parramatta must be the priority, not an afterthought,” Nance said.
“If the government does not recognise this, it will not just be another slap in the face to the residents of western Sydney, it will be a wasteful own goal at a time when voters are crying out for infrastructure that unlocks connectivity and economic opportunity.”
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter said Central Station was no longer central to Sydney’s growing population.
“It’s madness to build infrastructure of the future around an incredibly outdated view of where greater Sydney lives and where the jobs of tomorrow are being created,” Zaiter said.
“If all levels of government are serious about amplifying Sydney’s presence to that of a New York or London, they need to be thinking beyond the eastern CBD. Global cities are connected north to south and east to west – and unless Sydney is too, we’ll never reach that status.
“High speed rail has the potential to turbocharge the economic growth of western Sydney and link millions of visitors a year landing at the new airport to the heart of Greater Sydney and beyond – but only if we are part of the plan from day one.”
Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue CEO, Adam Leto, warned that the Federal Government couldn’t afford to be short-sighted when it comes to planning for high-speed rail.
“The Federal Government is faced with a golden opportunity to not only re-write high-speed rail’s failed history in this country, but also show that it is forward-thinking and in-tune with how our city is growing,” Leto said.
The Property Council of Australia’s Western Sydney Regional Director Ross Grove also backed calls for western Sydney to be considered in the coming business case for high-speed rail.
“Western Sydney deserves to feature in any future rail plan and the city’s commercial prominence, pro-growth orientation, and track record of delivery position it well to make the most of a once-in-a-century investment.”
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.