The Western Sydney business community has called on the NSW Government to prepare Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 as an economic stimulus project for the region following internal government polling that shows the project's growing community support.
Internal government polling for the project, released under Freedom of Information, shows that positive community sentiment towards Stage 2 has increased from 56% (2018) to 66% (2019) – an increase of 10% in just 12 months.
Knowledge of the proposed route for Stage 2 has increased from 60% (2018) to 71% (2019) and the likelihood to use Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 route has increased from 54% (2018) to 67% (2019).
The Sydney Olympic Park Business Association and Western Sydney Business Chamber have been vocal advocates for the NSW Government delivering on its commitment to build the entire Parramatta Light Rail network – both Stage 1 (Westmead to Carlingford) and Stage 2 (Rydalmere to Olympic Park).
"What the government's internal polling confirms is the more the local communities along the preferred route know about the project, the more they like it. They want the government to provide better transport through the region to key centres like Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta," said Allison Taylor, CEO of the Sydney Olympic Park Business Association.
"Better public transport connections from Sydney Olympic Park to its surrounding and growing residential suburbs is one of the most important issues holding the area back from reaching its full potential and supporting thousands of new jobs and homes. Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is a critical link to the growing communities in Wentworth Point and Melrose Park."
Western Sydney Business Chamber Executive Director David Borger said a 10% jump in support for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is remarkable considering that the NSW Government has been trying to walk away from the project.
"The NSW Government will need to use the state's infrastructure pipeline to kickstart the economy after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and projects such as Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 can be made shovel ready over the coming months to be a key stimulus project next year.
"The communities along the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 route and Western Sydney more broadly will be bitterly disappointed if the NSW Government fails to honour its public transport commitments to the region.
"The future of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 has been unclear for more 12 months now. It's time for the NSW Government to tell the people of Western Sydney are they going to build this project or scrap it?"
"Building Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will help unlock the full potential of the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula (G-POP) region driving millions of dollars of investment in new commercial buildings and housing – that's the kind of activity we are going to need to lift the economy out of recession," Mr Borger said.
