Region. WSROC welcomes committment

Western Sydney councils have welcomed the NSW Opposition’s commitment to building the axed rail links to Sydney’s growth areas in the north-west and south-west. “These links are urgent infrastructure projects for Western Sydney and critical for the growth of the metropolitan area,” said Clr Alison McLaren, president, of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC). She said Western Sydney was integral to Sydney’s future. “The metropolitan area’s two halves must be fully integrated because one can not exist without the other,” she said

Region. Call to bring forward construction

Clr Alison McLaren, president of WSROC, has called on the NSW Government to bring forward the construction of Sydney’s South-West Rail Link, which was deferred in last November’s mini-budget. It is vital for the future of Western Sydney that this project is re-instated, and that it proceeds quickly”, she said. Clr McLaren pointed out that both the South-West and North-West projects were not only vital to the future of Western Sydney, but to Sydney as a whole. “The pressing challenge in the south-west is to support residential expansion that is about to take place. The infrastructure imperative in the north-west is to resolve a transport crisis that exists right now, and is getting worse day by day,” she said

Region. WSROC wants rail extension

WSROC president, Tony Hay, has welcomed the renewed commitment by the State Government to complete the North West Metro by 2017 but urged that the route be extended to connect with the Richmond Line at Vineyard. He was speaking after the recent consultation by the Ministry of Transport with local government, business and community leaders on planning and construction issues with the planned line, which will run for 38 kilometres from the CBD to Rouse Hill via Epping and Castle Hill. The first stage (Hills Centre to Epping) is scheduled to open by 2015 with the full line in operation by 2017.