Light Rail proposal to unlock potential of Sydney Olympic Park

A new report is backing plans from a grouping of venues, local authorities and business interests for a light railway scheme linking Sydney’s ANZ Stadium and Olympic Park with the nearby suburbs of Parramatta and Strathfield - unlocking the potential of Sydney’s Olympic corridor.

The report Restarting Sydney’s Heart – Light Rail the Engine of Change, examines the opportunities that a light rail line along Sydney’s Olympic Corridor would deliver.

Complied by consultants Deloitte and respected urban planner, Rod Simpson for the WestLine Partnership, the report encourages the private sector and NSW Government to work together to deliver a precinct that is expected to house more than one third of all new jobs and almost 20% of new dwellings in Western Sydney by 2036.

With a projected cost of $1.1 billion for the full scheme, a Western Sydney Light Rail network would connect the suburbs of Parramatta, Rosehill, Rhodes and Strathfield through a central hub at Sydney Olympic Park, opening up the major events and business suburb.

With a capacity to move 5,000 passengers per hour in both directions (the equivalent of 200 buses on the roads), the Light Rail link would half the travel time for sports and events fans travelling from Parramatta to ANZ Stadium and Sydney Olympic Park.

In a communication to stakeholders, ANZ Stadium Media Manager Arthur Stanley explained that the Light Rail project would “bring trams to the front gates of ANZ Stadium and connect Greater Western Sydney.”

Referring to the NSW Government’s current consideration of options to invest in the future of ANZ Stadium as part of a $600 million commitment to improve sporting stadiums in the city, Stanley highlights that “improving transport to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct is one of the key commitments of the Stadium Redevelopment Project.” 

Under the proposal outlined in the Deloitte report, the Light Rail line along the Olympic Corridor could be funded through a voluntary contribution model for the private sector. This involves land owners who elect to take up density uplift incentives along the Light Rail route putting up money for the project.

The Deloitte report highlights that by 2036 more than 190,000 people are expected to be living in the Olympic Corridor, putting significant pressure on the existing transport network.

The following businesses, agencies and organisations are members of the WestLine Partnership: ANZ Stadium, Australian Turf Club, Billbergia, Dexus, Goodman Group, GPT Group, NRMA, Payce Consolidated, Accor, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Sekisui House, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Sydney Olympic Park Business Association, Sydney Business Chamber, City of Canada Bay and Auburn City Council.

27th December 2014 - SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK BUSINESS COMMUNITY CALLS FOR FINANCIAL BACKING FOR PRECINCT

16th December 2014 - SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION BACKS PARRAMATTA-SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK LIGHT RAIL LINK

27th November 2014 - STADIUM PLANS TO QUICKLY SWALLOW UP NSW GOVERNMENT’S $600 MILLION SPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

18th November 2014 - ANZ STADIUM’S $350 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TO REVITALISE FORMER OLYMPIC VENUE 

25th October 2011 - TTF CALLS FOR MORE INTEGRATED TICKETING FOR MAJOR EVENTS