One foot nailed to the platform
‘Light Rail Extension To Be Investigated’, screamed the headline of a recent media release from the office of NSW Transport Minister, David Campbell. Supporters of light rail might have experienced a chilling sense of déjà vu – with over 50 studies completed on light rail in relation to the inner city and the inner west since 1995, a touch of cynicism is perhaps only to be expected. But pressure from area councils and local action groups such as EcoTransit Sydney looks like it might finally be forcing the state government to come to the table on this long-stalled project.
Not that the arrangement is without inducement for the state. Very unusually for a transport venture, Ashfield, Marrickville, Leichhardt and City of Sydney councils have agreed to the Minister’s request for contributions to the cost of the study, and have anted up $140,000 between them, after an initial request by the state government for each council to contribute $50,000. The NSW Government will contribute the balance, which is expected to be $110,000. “We were desperate – we felt like we had to show some good faith,” said Leichhardt Deputy Mayor Michele McKenzie, when asked why the councils agreed to such an irregular request.
A spokesperson from the Minister’s office last week confirmed the extension study was approved by the Government in May, subject to the councils’ contribution. Advertisements for tenders to conduct the study will be issued “within the month”, with the process expected to take six months to complete.
The NSW Government has a thirty-year contract with Metro Transport Sydney, which gives Metro the right to negotiate to operate any extension to the existing system.
City of Sydney Media noted the large number of studies without action, but said the Bangaroo development made a positive outcome more likely this time around. Leichhardt Councillor Lyndal Howison welcomed the new study and said she considered light rail to be a great help in reducing traffic congestion in the area. She added, however, that she did not believe the project was a “no-brainer”, and that there might be potential difficulties in having a greenway and bike track near the light rail because of pedestrian and cyclist safety issues.
Cr McKenzie remained cautious about the prospects of real progress. “I believe that [Minister] Campbell himself is personally in favour of light rail,” she said. “[But] have a look at the composition of the [study] panel – all the agencies on the panel are well-known opponents of light rail.”
Deputy Premier and Marrickville MP Carmel Tebbutt welcomed the study and noted the government, “had already moved to reserve the light rail corridor and keep it in public hands until a decision is made on its future use.” MP for Balmain Verity Firth likewise reaffirmed her support for the extension, describing it as, “a wonderful addition to Sydney’s public transport network…[and] something that I and local residents support and have been calling for.”
Decisions also still need to be made concerning potential uses for the rails. According to a spokesperson for Minister Campbell, the Rozelle Goods Line has been identified for possible use for spoil removal from construction of the CBD Metro. A decision regarding use of the corridor for this purpose is yet to be made.” The spokesman said, however, there no plans to use the rail corridor as a connecting motorway from the City West Link to the south-west.
by Jeremy Brown
