Under the plans,a giant deck will be constructed over the regional and intercity rail lines which terminate at Central,allowing about 15 buildings to emerge above,as well as a pedestrian avenue,laneways and plazas.
Infrastructure and Cities Minister Rob Stokes said the proposal to build the deck over working rail lines to support buildings up to 34 storeys presented a “huge engineering challenge”.
“We’ve only got a 10-year window to do it because the forecast is that these lines are going to become busier,and we will lose the opportunity to deal with that huge operational structure,” he said.
Stokes cast the project as a rare opportunity to heal an urban scar created by the railway separating inner-city suburbs,rejuvenating “forgotten heritage gems” and transforming disused public spaces. “Communities like Chippendale and Surry Hills will be united,” he said.
University of Sydney transport expert Geoffrey Clifton said building a large multibillion-dollar development atop busy rail lines would be both “very expensive” and an enormous engineering feat.
“This is just about as complicated as engineering gets in the city. There is always the risk of something going wrong or finding something you didn’t realise was there,” he said.