Rail connectivity critical to Illawarra’s future

The Property Council has welcomed the release of an important report commissioned by SMART Infrastructure, the University of Wollongong and Illawarra First titled Upgrading rail connectivity between Illawarra and Sydney. 

Rail connectivity for the Illawarra is critical to reduce road congestion, improve the movement of freight and encourage additional investment in our region. Rail will also be important to link the growth expected in Sydney’s south west over the next thirty years with our region

The directed research identified measures to improve speed and reliability of rail connectivity between the Illawarra and Sydney. 

The key findings from the research are:

• Improved transport connectivity to the industrial heartland of south west Sydney, including the proposed Sydney second airport at Badgerys Creek. A rail link would provide a faster route for rail commuters to stations in western and south west Sydney such as Liverpool, Leppington and Campbelltown.
• Provision of infrastructure to accommodate potential increases in coal and other freight moving between Port Kembla and Sydney, and the Lithgow coalfields and Port Kembla (thus largely bypassing the Sydney Trains Network).
• Augmentation of the capacity of Port Botany by bringing more freight through Port Kembla.
• Reduced passenger and freight congestion on the South Coast Line by providing an alternative entry point into the Sydney Trains Network.
• Improved transport connectivity between the Illawarra, Sydney’s second airport at Badgerys Creek and the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal.
• Capacity to reduce heavy truck traffic congestion on Mt Ousley and other roads near Port Kembla (by taking some freight off trucks).
• Additional incentive for investment in the Illawarra to counter the impacts of the mining downturn and loss of the steelmaking industry.
• Indirect benefits such as reduced noise and pollution in urban areas in Wollongong and southern Sydney.
• Essential infrastructure to minimise costs of a major upgrade or disruption to the South Coast Line, for instance as a result of landslides or rock falls, by providing an alternative route into Sydney.

The Property Council strongly supports transport investment in the Illawarra and rail is a good option to provide sustainable transport for our local population and also improved the efficiency of our ports and freight network.