“Exactly what that looks like,and what the options are going forward,it’s too early to tell. We need to look at everything and consider the best way forward.
“We can’t just have a white elephant sitting there without the connecting pieces.”
Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger,a former state Labor MP,said the airport would not function without the interchange,which he considered a nationally significant project.
“The new airport needs the interchange to operate;otherwise you’d be taking people into the airport using local roads,and they’re just not designed and built for volumes for an airport that’s operating 24 hours a day. It has to be built no matter what.”
Borger urged the state and federal governments to resolve the funding dilemma to provide certainty;however,he was firmly of the view that “nationally significant projects need national money”.
“If it’s not resolved we’ll be opening the best airport in Australia,and we won’t be able to get there.
“They are building the M12,and if they don’t connect it,it will be a road to nowhere.”
Penrith’s Labor mayor Todd Carney said stripping funding for five projects in his area,including commuter car parks at Kingswood and St Marys train stations,was “absolutely disappointing”.
“I’m deeply concerned that we are the hardest hit. It seems like Penrith was targeted the most.
“I understand that they’re trying to ease the pressure in the pipeline,but these aren’t the projects to do it on. These are the projects that need to be done now.”
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He suggested councils in western Sydney mount a combined push to lobby the government to reverse its decision.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Pierre Esber,a Labor councillor,agreed the interchange had to proceed. He argued:“These things cost twice as much if you kick things down the road.”
Liverpool councillor Nathan Hagarty,who is the Labor MP for Leppington said the project was vital.
“With Western Sydney Airport – a federal government initiative – due to open in 2026,it’s critical we have the transport links ready from day one.”
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