A Shorten Labor Government will commit $3 billion for vital rail infrastructure in Western Sydney, bringing jobs, economic development and a better quality of life to people living in Macarthur.
“Labor understands that we need real investment in infrastructure, to keep up with the exponential growth that we are seeing in Western Sydney,” said Dr Mike Freelander MP.
“The new airport will provide Macarthur with many opportunities, in terms of economic growth and employment. However, without the adequate infrastructure to connect the airport to our community; Macarthur residents will miss out.”
The commitment was announced during the Leader of the Opposition’s speech to the NSW Labor Conference, which was held over the weekend.
“Labor has been committed to this project since before the last election, when we committed $400 million to get this project underway. This announcement builds on that commitment and will help to ease congestion whilst bringing jobs closer to where people live,” said the Member for Macarthur.
“Labor is committed to reducing congestion, and without adequate public transport infrastructure our already overly-congested roads will only get worse.”
“I have always said that the new airport should be properly connected via rail - a future Labor Government will make this happen.”
The project is set to be delivered in stages under a Shorten Labor Government. It includes extending the South-West rail link from Leppington via Bringelly to the new airport at Badgery’s Creek, and a new connection from Macarthur in the south to St Marys in the north - serving the massive job corridor at Sydney Business Park.
“For too long, the current Government and their out of touch Prime Minister have been dragging their feet on this subject, focusing on their scoping studies and press conferences. A Labor Government will put serious funding behind this project to ensure that South-Western Sydney has the public transport infrastructure it so desperately needs,” said Dr Freelander.
“Western Sydney’s population is expected to grow by an additional one million people in the next 20 years, and traffic congestion is expected to cost Sydney nearly $15 billion by 2031.”
This project is expected to take 1,000 cars off the road every time a train leaves the station, with Deloitte estimating the project will add over $44 billion in benefits to the economy by 2040.
“I am immensely proud to be part of a team that takes the needs of South West Sydney seriously. I have been lobbying on this cause for some time, and it was my pleasure to be on stage with my Labor colleagues during Bill’s announcement. I look forward to helping deliver this investment in the next Labor Government,” said the Member for Macarthur.
