Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

One month after announcing the State’s transport vision, the NSW Government has begun work on Sydney’s $500 million light rail expansion.

The pre-construction tender – which examines the costs, demand, technical issues, integration with other public transport, and economic factors - was yesterday awarded to global transport services company - GHD.

This pre construction study will advise us on when construction will start.

The light rail is part of the fully funded $50.2 billion Metropolitan Transport vision and includes up to 20 new stations and almost 10 kilometres of new track.

It more than doubles the distance of the existing light rail in Sydney – making the route from Dulwich Hill to Circular Quay.

Earlier this month, the State Government issued critical infrastructure declarations to start implementation of some of the projects in the transport vision, including the light rail extensions.

“We always said work would begin immediately on our Transport Vision – and it will go to ‘market’ as soon as possible – and that is what we have done,” Ms Keneally said.

“Just over one month after releasing the details we are forging ahead with this priority State infrastructure.

“Nothing is more important to me than ensuring we provide the best possible public transport options for the people of Sydney and NSW – and that we do this now.”

The Light Rail extension includes:

• new light rail stretching from Circular Quay to Dulwich Hill through the Sydney CBD, Chinatown to the inner-west. This light rail route will also go through the disused rail corridor at Rozelle;
• 4.1 kilometres of light rail from Circular Quay via Barangaroo to Haymarket; and
• 5.6 kilometres of light rail from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill.

This is a significant step forward for the new light rail, to run from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill in the inner west, and in the Sydney CBD from Circular Quay via Barangaroo to Chinatown.

“It will make a difference to families, businessmen and women, students and visitors to get around the City faster and more efficiently.

“This is also proof that we have listened to the people of Sydney and we are moving quickly to deliver on our promises.”

The speed of progress on the Light Rail can be attributed to three things – one, the Critical Infrastructure declaration, prioritising transport infrastructure works in NSW, and the fact the State Government was already conducting a feasibility study on the Light Rail extension in January.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP today welcomed the announcement and said it is a great outcome for Sydney.

“The new light rail loop via George Street and Barangaroo is an investment in our future and will benefit future generations,” Cr Moore said.

“It will secure Sydney’s status as a global centre of business, retailing, tourism and the arts.

“The CBD light rail extensions will make central Sydney more inviting for the 600,000 people walking around it every day, by making it easy to get around by public transport, removing long queues of buses, reducing vehicle congestion and easing pollution.”

With the tender awarded this week, work has already begun and is expected to take around three months to complete. GHD will examine priorities in delivering:

• an Inner West extension to Dulwich Hill along the disused rail corridor from Lilyfield, a 5.6km route;
• a CBD extension into linking Haymarket to Circular Quay via Barangaroo, a 4.1km route;
• an extension along George Street, linking Circular Quay back to Central Station to form a CBD loop. This additional scope to the study, announced in January, was agreed after consultation with City of Sydney Council.

“The light rail system, part of the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Transport Plan, will provide a clean, quiet and reliable service,” Ms Keneally said.

“It will complement bus services, enable interchange with the Inner West and Bankstown CityRail Lines and ensure a viable transport alternative for many people.

“We’re keen to get on with the job of constructing the light rail and have already showed our commitment to getting started with the declaration of this project as critical infrastructure.

”This means the project will be assessed as a priority by the Minister for Planning.”

NSW Transport & Infrastructure is starting the Environmental Assessment process needed to obtain the necessary planning approvals for the construction of the light rail extensions.

A preliminary environmental assessment is expected to be lodged with the Department of Planning around mid 2010.