Paramatta council to fast-track vital light rail service

by: Vikki Campion From: The Daily Telegraph May 16, 2012 12:00AM A BOLD plan for a $9.5 billion light rail network linking western Sydney's biggest cities will get a $1 million kickstart from Parramatta City Council today. The move comes as planning experts meet to discuss Sydney's future at a major economic forum. The light rail would span 105km and connect Liverpool, Parramatta, Rhodes, Macquarie Park and Bankstown. Parramatta Lord Mayor Lorraine Wearne will front the Parramatta Economic Development Forum at Sydney Opera House and is expected to announce the $1 million feasibility study to start early next month. "There's always plenty of talk about transport matters - congestion on Parramatta or Victoria roads or lack of efficiency and service on our public transport networks - but unfortunately there's not enough action," she said. "We want to change this. This is a project that the council believes in and we feel will go a long way towards relieving congestion, providing strong regional connections across Western Sydney and will also integrate with existing transport infrastructure such as heavy rail." The Parramatta Economic Development Forum - partnered by The Daily Telegraph's People's Plan - brings together some of the city's most influential leaders to discuss revolutionising the way the Sydney operates. Among the major projects on the agenda are a second Sydney airport, Parramatta as a second CBD and the proposed light rail network. Supported by politicians, academics and the people of Sydney, The Daily Telegraph's People's Plan is a new campaign to make the state government deliver the transport, infrastructure and services that Sydneysiders deserve. Put together by some of the most innovative minds in the state, the blueprint for Sydney's future brings together lateral ideas to take our city forward by outlining projects that need immediate action. Ms Wearne, one of the architects of the People's Plan, said the light rail proposal was a vital project that council was determined to get up and running. A new development for the highest residential tower in Parramatta and 25,000sqm of commercial space, to replace the fallen Civic Place project, will also be put forward. Western Sydney Region Of Council CEO Kerry Bartlett, who will also front the forum, said the west would be the prime generator of growth over the next two decades.