Sydney Metro West project progresses to next planning stage

New South Wales’ Sydney Metro West project marks a new major milestone with the beginning of the next stage planning process, which covers the construction of nine new metro stations between Westmead and Hunter Street in the CBD along with building the precincts around the stations. 

The Scoping Report for the project has been submitted to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and it seeks approval to deliver major works including fit-out of the twin railway tunnels, construction of the new stations and services facilities as well as station precincts, and operation of the new underground metro line. 

"The report provides information on proposed works and outlines the next steps in preparing a detailed Environmental Impact Statement, which will be open for community feedback in early 2022,” Sydney Metro said in a statement. 

Works on the Sydney Metro West project commenced in 2020 at The Bays to allow for tunnel boring machines to start digging in 2022. 

On the other hand, major planning approval was granted in March 2021 for the project Concept between Westmead and the CBD as well as for station excavation works and tunnelling between Westmead and The Bays. You can read more about the planning approval here. 

The Sydney Metro West project will include a new 24-kilometre metro line and nine new stations with confirmed locations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD. 

This Sydney Metro development is anticipated to create approximately 10,000 direct and up to 70,000 indirect jobs during its construction phase. 

Features of Sydney Metro West include: 

• Faster, more frequent access to major employment and education centres like Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park 
• A new metro station in the heart of the Sydney CBD commercial centre, connecting directly to Sydney’s established and growing employment precincts 
• A new metro station at Westmead – one of Australia’s largest health and education precincts 
• Delivering new rail services for the first time at Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays and Pyrmont 
• A new metro station at Sydney Olympic Park – Sydney's sporting and entertainment super-precinct 
• A new metro station at Pyrmont – delivering major benefits to the Pyrmont community and supporting plans to transform this harbourside suburb 
• Integrated with the rest of Sydney’s public transport system 
• Fully accessible with lifts and level access between trains and platforms 
• Next generation fully-airconditioned metro trains 
• All Sydney Metro infrastructure like the stations, trains and railway tracks are owned by the NSW Government 
• Sydney Metro uses Opal ticketing and fares are set by the NSW Government 

Source: Sydney Metro (1, 2); Inside Construction