North West. Interest on the rise

Buyers in Sydney’s north-west suburbs is one the rise, as the development of the long-promised North West Rail Link looks ever more certain, according to The Australian Financial Review. Transport NSW proposes to hold an industry briefing on the 23-kilometre link, on June 26.

North West. Driverless trains

The NSW government has investigated running driverless trains on the $8.5 billion North West Rail Link, in a move that could spark tensions with transport unions over potential job cuts, according to The Australian Financial Review.

North West. No plans to incorporate rail

The state government has not explained how it plans to incorporate trains from the North West Rail Link into the rest of the network, in the wake of criticism of the line by the federal infrastructure adviser. The state government has still not explained how it plans to incorporate trains from the north west rail link into the rest of the network, in the wake of criticism of the line by the federal infrastructure adviser, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

North West. Request for funds refused

Infrastructure Australia has refused a request by the NSW government to fund the $8.5 billion North-West Rail Link saying the project is “not the highest priority for Sydney”. Infrastructure Australia recommended “a broader range of options be considered, in particular, alternate transit solutions (busways) and links to Parramatta” .

North West. Concern over rail cost

Barry O’Farrell’s infrastructure adviser, the former premier Nick Greiner, is pushing the government to reopen the saga of the north west rail link, citing concerns about its cost and a lack of faith in RailCorp, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. In a development recalling the missing line's tortuous 13-year history, Mr Greiner is lobbying inside government for it to consider throwing the planning and operation of the line to the private sector. If the government adopts Mr Greiner's suggestion, it would need to break a commitment to have the line's final plan and cost set in stone by the end of this year.

Castle Hill. Property hotspot

Castle Hill is set to be a property hotspot following the NSW government’s green light for the North West Rail Link. Raine & Horne Castle Hill principal, Damien Hickey, said proximity to the North West Rail Link was set to become a major consideration for homebuyers who commute daily to the Sydney CBD. Mr Hickey warned that proper planning was essential, and urged the state government to continue to consider parking and carriage capacity for commuters intending to use the new rail service.

North West. Premier's truce with PM

Although the North West Rail Link project remains a priority, it will also be "developed in parallel" with the federal government's $2.1 billion Parramatta to Epping line, according to new tender documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph. The documents reveal six new stations over a 23-kilometre route from Epping to Rouse Hill, with the intention to extend the line and eventually link it with the Western Line, near Schofields. Premier Barry O'Farrell appeared to reach a truce last month when he stopped demanding the Prime Minister shift the $2.1 billion in funds she had earmarked for the Parramatta to Epping line to his election promise to build the North West Rail Link. There is a belief both will be built, with a compromise to be reached on specific timelines. Sources said Infrastructure Australia has also asked for all route possibilities to be examined, the paper said.

Blacktown. Progress on precincts

Substantial progress has been made towards finalising the rezoning of two precincts in Sydney’s North West Growth Centre, said the Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, who toured the area with Charlie Lowles, mayor of Blacktown City Council. “We discussed the rezoning of Riverstone and Alex Avenue precincts for urban development so land for more than 15,000 homes and 45,000 residents can be made available over the next two decades, The North West Growth Centre will be home to an extra 200,000 people over the next 25 years and these two precincts together will house almost a quarter of that population increase,” Mr Kelly said

Kellyville. Land rezoned for development

Over 5000 new lots in North Kellyville have been planned and rezoned for development. The North Kellyville Precinct is the first precinct within the North West Growth Centre to be completely planned, exhibited and rezoned via the government’s successful precinct planning process. A development control plan accompanies the rezoning. The Hills Shire Council will finalise its s94 Contributions Plan early in 2009. This means these lots will be ready to be developed as soon as the market picks up, according to the Government Gazette.