NSW Labor has today confirmed that they will cancel infrastructure projects in Western Sydney, scrapping plans for Sydney Metro lines from Bankstown to Glenfield via Liverpool and from Westmead to the Aerotropolis.
Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said that Labor's announcement shows Chris Minns can't deliver the infrastructure needs of a growing Western Sydney.
"Today's announcement is another example of why Labor's limited economic management means Western Sydney will get less than they deserve. It's simple, without any money you can't have any vision, and Chris Minns today reminded Western Sydney families to lower their expectations of a Labor government," Mr Stokes said.
"It's one thing to plan, another to deliver. While the Liberals and Nationals are getting on with delivering a world class metro network, the fact is Labor has demonstrated no capacity to deliver metro projects, and has opposed every fiscal measure that could fund it,"
"Chris Minns supposedly wants to be Premier, but he's already telling the people of Western Sydney to expect less from a Labor government. Labor knows its governing agenda will mean less money for infrastructure investment, more time spent in congestion, and a bad deal for the people of Western Sydney."
During its last time in office, Labor promised to build 12 rail lines, but did not deliver a single one in full. Labor has promised a metro to Western Sydney four times since the mid-1990s, and cancelled plans every time. In 2010, they were so incompetent they handed $81 million back to the Federal Government after cancelling it once again.
Only the Liberal and Nationals have the long term economic plan to transform Western Sydney by expanding the world class Sydney Metro to connect greater Sydney to the new Western Sydney International Airport.
Earlier this month, the Liberal and Nationals government committed to kick off the process of delivering four new Sydney Metro lines in Western Sydney by undertaking the final business cases for the new routes, which include:
· Tallawong to St Marys;
· Westmead to the Aerotropolis;
· Bankstown to Glenfield via Liverpool; and
· Macarthur to the Aerotropolis
The proposed new lines will be integrated with the broader Sydney Metro network, which includes:
· Sydney Metro North West – completed in May 2019;
· Sydney Metro City and South West – services from Chatswood to Sydenham to commence in 2024, then to Bankstown within 12 months;
· Sydney Metro West – on track to be completed by 2030; and
· Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport – The Australian and NSW governments are working together to deliver this project alongside the opening of Western Sydney International Airport in 2026.
