Planning approval from NSW Govt granted to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2

Construction on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is close to beginning as it secures planning approval from the New South Wales Government. 

The approval follows the commitment of a $200 million funding from the 2023-24 State Budget to accelerate the project’s planning process. 

The project will extend the light rail corridor by 10 kilometres and it will deliver 14 new light rail stops to provide residents with a much-needed public transport link and enable future housing growth. 

“This is a major step forward for the city-shaping Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project, meaning our growing communities in Western Sydney will be more connected than ever before. 

“With around half of local residents and a third of local employees projected to live and work across the project corridor, this new track will serve a population of close to 280,000 by 2041. 

“Stage 2 will directly link residents in Parramatta to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct and give communities like Wentworth Point the public transport they’ve been promised,” Transport Minister Jo Haylen said. 

The approved corridor will include alignment changes around Rydalmere to make connections to Rydalmere Ferry Wharf easier while improving travel times. 

The Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project will connect Stage 1 as well as the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via the growing communities of Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point. It will also connect to Sydney Metro West – which is under construction – and to the heavy rail network in Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park. 

Once completed, passengers will be able to travel from Sydney Olympic Park to Camellia in about 30 minutes, and an additional 7 minutes to the Parramatta CBD. 

“It’s great news that the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project has been given the green light. Density in our cities is only possible if we can provide the supporting infrastructure, and that includes transport. 

“The NSW Government will continue to work closely with its partners and stakeholders so that the Conditions of Approval are met for the ongoing delivery of this vital megaproject,” Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said. 

Final project map (source: Parramatta Light Rail)

Project construction is going to be carried out in stages. Initial work on the project is due to commence this year, starting with a new 320-metre public and active transport bridge over Parramatta River, between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point. 

Procurement is currently underway for the $602.4 million bridge, with the initial contract for enabling works to be awarded later this year. This is the first stage in the delivery of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, with main construction on the new bridge to begin in 2025. 

Last year, a shortlist of tenderers for enabling works was announced. You can read more about it here.

Enabling works on the bridge are subject to approval by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water. 

This bridge is the first significant bridge crossing over Parramatta River since the southbound Ryde Bridge was completed in 1987 and it will connect the growing communities of Melrose Park and Wentworth Point, which are located north and south of the river. 

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is part of the development of Parramatta’s first tram network in over 80 years. Tram testing is currently being undertaken on Stage 1 between Carlingford and Westmead via the Parramatta CBD. 

“I am thrilled the NSW Government has reached this milestone in the planning of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2. 

“I will continue to work with residents, businesses, and local groups to ensure vital transport links like this one are delivered for our community. 

“Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will connect communities on both banks of the Parramatta River directly to the Parramatta CBD. This will be a real game changer for the way people move around our city and I can’t wait to see work begin,” Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP said. 

Key features and benefits of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 include:

• 14 fully accessible stops over a 10-kilometre two-way track
• Connections to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1, Sydney Metro West and heavy rail in Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park; and ferry services at Rydalmere and Sydney Olympic Park
• A total of 9.5 kilometres of integrated active transport (including 8.5 kilometres of new shared paths) to support healthy, liveable and connected communities
• A shared light rail and pedestrian zone along Dawn Fraser Avenue in Sydney Olympic Park between Australia Avenue and Olympic Boulevard
• New public and active transport bridges, including connections over the Parramatta River from Camellia to Rydalmere and Melrose Park to Wentworth Point
• Services approximately every 7.5 minutes between 7am and 7pm on weekdays
• Travel times of around 31 minutes from Camellia to the Carter Street Precinct via Sydney Olympic Park, and further 7 minutes to the Parramatta CBD

Source: NSW Government – News; NSW Government – Parramatta Light Rail (1, 2)