Preferred alignment for NSW Outer Sydney Orbital Stage 2 announced

The preferred corridor option for New South Wales’ Outer Sydney Orbital Stage 2 – Appin Road connection has been confirmed by Transport for NSW, taking this proposed critical transport infrastructure closer to reality. 

Confirmation of the preferred route for this section of the Outer Sydney Orbital – between Hume Motorway and Appin Road – is vital to ensuring that key transport links are available in the future to connect Greater Macarthur to the new Aerotropolis in Western Sydney as well as to the Illawarra-Shoalhaven. 

Following an extensive public consultation period from November 2020 to January 2021, the ‘Blue’ option was chosen from the two proposed corridor options – options Blue and Yellow. 

“Greater Macarthur is a growing area and it is vital for good planning and providing convenient connections for the community that we know where transport links will be located in future. 

“I want to thank the community for their strong interest in the process. We received nearly 300 submissions and it was clear which option the majority supported. 

“We’ve listened to this community feedback and the Blue option has been selected as it provides the best outcomes for the community, has fewer impacts and performs well environmentally. 

“As a result of feedback received, the design was amended to further reduce impacts including moving the alignment to better protect and preserve koala habitat and move a bridge crossing to avoid a site of Aboriginal cultural significance,” a Transport for NSW Spokesperson said. 

Once open to traffic, the proposed corridor will deliver several benefits to the region including: 

• Provide communities with transport connection between the Western Parkland City and the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region 
• Provide access to jobs and other employment opportunities across the Aerotropolis and surrounding industrial lands 
• Provide access to the Western Sydney Airport 
• Support different transport needs including public transport, walking and cycling options 
• Support urban development across the Wilton and Greater Macarthur Growth Areas and the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region 
• Facilitate great places, and provide certainty for investment across the region 

With the preferred route confirmed, Transport for NSW can now proceed to the next planning phase for the region. 

On the other hand, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will undertake the works to finalise the future road networks along with its plans for the Greater Macarthur Growth Area – including the ‘Blue’ alignment option. 

The full community consultation report and more information on the preferred alignment option for the Outer Sydney Orbital Stage 2 development can be found here. 

Source: Transport for NSW (1, 2); Infrastructure Magazine; Roads & Infrastructure Australia