Sydney Metro West misses out on Federal funding

The Federal Government has not dedicated any funding for the $20 billion Western Sydney Metro West rail, due for delivery in the late 2020s and expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs.

While Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s 2019 Federal Budget included spending for multiple road and transport initiatives in the region, this significant project missed out.

“Western Sydney contributes more than 8 per cent of Australia’s GDP and within the next decade will be home to more than half of Sydney’s population. The Sydney Metro West has a vital role in supporting this growth and we will continue to promote its importance, particularly with the Western Line now at breaking point,” Adam Leto, Executive Director of the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue told Michael Page Australia.

“Regardless of the Federal Government’s latest budget, or whoever wins the Federal Election, there is no denying that Metro West is the steel spine of one the country’s fastest growing regions and it demands federal, state and local support, especially when you consider the economic outcomes it will deliver.”

The Dialogue said it is still confident Sydney Metro West will be planned, funded and built on time.

“As we’ve seen through the Western Sydney City Deal, the Federal Government can play an important role in the development of our cities, and our hope that it will continue to invest in the region’s growth centres, particularly within the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Park Corridor,” Leto said.

Greater Western Sydney is forecast to grow from 2 million-plus people to 3 million-plus by 2036.

In the next 25 years, the region will generate 15 per cent of Australia’s population growth, and 60 per cent of Sydney’s.

Christopher Brown AM, Chairman of Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue said the decision not to include funding for the Metro West rail project in the budget was a missed opportunity for the Morrison government to demonstrate its support for the economic development of the region.

Brown said Metro West will be Sydney’s most transformative transport project, and upon completion of the first link, will generate tens of thousands of jobs by unlocking the potential of the city’s two CBDs – Sydney and Parramatta.

He acknowledged the government’s continued support for the North-South rail, which will link St Marys to the Western Sydney Airport.

The NSW government has allocated $6.4 billion for the Sydney Metro West rail.

As part of the 2019 Federal Budget, the Western Sydney region was earmarked: