Media Release
Premier of New South Wales Australia
CARR GOVERNMENT UNVEILS THE FUTURE OF SYDNEY TRANSPORT
The Carr Government today unveiled a fully-funded 10 year construction plan to transform Sydney's public transport network for the next century.
This is exciting news for bus and rail commuters and for everyone concerned about Sydney's air quality.
The plan will create 28,000 jobs for NSW families and ensure Sydney's construction boom continues after the Olympics.
It delivers solutions for Western Sydney and the Central Coast, which have been ignored by previous governments despite huge population growth.
The Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr, said Action for Transport 2010 commits the Government to a statewide transport package which includes the expansion of the State's rail network at a responsible, affordable cost of $300 million per year on average.
Transport Minister, Mr Carl Scully, said the plan also features a unique 90 kilometre rapid bus-only transitway system in Sydney totalling $770 million over ten years.
Major road projects in metropolitan and regional NSW will be funded from the annual roads program.
"This is the biggest transport construction program since the Sydney underground rail line was begun in the 1920s," Mr Carr said.
"It will create 28,000 construction jobs across NSW including 19,000 jobs in Sydney and will continue Sydney's construction boom after the Olympics.
"I am proud to unveil this plan today after my commitment last year that it would be ready for November 1998."
The Sydney plan features:
- Eight new rail lines, including Epping to Castle Hill, Hurstville to Strathfield and high speed rail links to the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Illawarra.
- Ninety kilometres of rapid bus-only transitways across Western Sydney linking Parramatta, Strathfield, St Marys, Blacktown, Castle Hill, Wetherill Park and Mungerie Park.
- More than 100 kilometres of new cross regional bus routes to link major suburban centres.
- Major roads projects worth $950 million including the Cross City Tunnel and the federally funded Western Sydney Orbital.
- An expansion of the. light rail network through the Inner West.
- A $100 million package to replace and upgrade the Sydney Ferries fleet with 12 new state-of-the-art SuperCats.
"As Sydney's population grows we need a fully-funded transport plan to win the battle to improve our air quality," the Premier said.
"Families must be encouraged to leave their cars at home and use public transport to get to work, to school, to childcare, to hospitals and universities and to major retail and business centres.
"We need to expand our efficient, safe, affordable and accessible transport network to meet growing demand and to make public transport go where people want to go.
"We also need faster freight routes to make it easier to do business in NSW.
"Action for Transport 2010 builds on our current transport system in areas of greatest need now and in the future, delivering an integrated network for the next century," Mr Carr said.
The Minister for Transport and Roads said the construction program is fully costed and has been approved by the NSW Treasury.
"This is a responsible, affordable budgetary program which will build the transport system of the future for the people of Sydney," Mr Scully said.
"The Government is already getting on with the job of transforming Sydney's transport system.
"Work has commenced on the $700 million Eastern Distributor and $750 million M5 Fast Motor-way and work will start next month on the $198 million Liverpool to Parramatta Rapid Bus Transitway.
"A $20 million light rail extension through the Inner West to Lilyfield will commence early next year.
"Last week, the Government issued the Overview Report for the $1.4 billion, 28 kilometre Parramatta Rail Link to Chatswood via Epping.
"This is a solid record of achievement. This Government is delivering the. Projects which will make a difference to quality of life in Sydney," the Minister said.
The Sydney construction program is part of a statewide plan for NSW transport. The Government will release a transport plan for country and regional NSW shortly.
