Penrith City Council is delighted by news that full length north-south rail has been placed on Infrastructure Australia's 2026 Infrastructure Priority List.
Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said with the opening of Western Sydney International Airport now only months away, it is more than critical that attention shifts to what's next for the region.
"Penrith Council has advocated long and hard for full length north-south rail," Cr Carney said.
"We are delighted that a Sydney rail connection from Tallawong to St Marys and rail connections from Bradfield to Leppington and Macarthur are now on the Infrastructure Priority List.
"However, they are among 60-odd other projects on that list. We now need funding commitment from Government to prepare for delivery."
To enable Greater Sydney to grow sustainably, we must connect Western Sydney in and of itself and move away from the historical focus of east-west connections to the Sydney City CBD, Cr Carney said.
"Right now, Western Sydney is super-charged by the unprecedented investment in infrastructure, the development of new and renewed communities and economic hubs, and the evolution of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
"However, it needs to be fully connected to enable a thriving community that can access the opportunities of growth and change, and ultimately for the region to fulfil its economic role in NSW and Australia."
We must push on at pace to deliver other vital infrastructure if we are to realise the extraordinary potential of Western Sydney and top of the list has to be north-south rail connecting the entire region, Cr Carney said.
"I recognise that significant funds have been committed, and business case work is underway on the potential future extensions of the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport line south from Bradfield and north from St Marys.
"But we need both Australian and NSW Governments to commit to funding for future delivery."
