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COMMUNITY UPDATE
February/March 2011
INNER WEST LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION
Inner West Light Rail Extension approved
The Inner West Light Rail Extension has been approved by the Minister for Planning. This approval enables design and
construction work to commence, with the new extension to the Inner West up and running in late 2012.
The light rail network is being extended by almost 10km so passengers can travel directly between Dulwich Hill, the
Inner West and through the Sydney CBD.
The first stage of the light rail extension - the 5.6km extension through the Inner West - will run from the current light rail
terminus at Lilyfield, along the disused freight rail corridor, to Dulwich Hill. It will connect communities in the Inner West and
give residents another option for accessing local neighbourhoods as well as the Sydney CBD, Pyrmont and Darling Harbour.
The project includes a shared walking and cycling path with bushcare sites – a “GreenWay” – from the Cooks River to Iron Cove.
Why light rail for the Inner West? The GreenWay
The Inner West Light Rail Extension will: The GreenWay will be a 3m wide walking and cycling shared path
from the Cooks River to Iron Cove, and incorporate bushcare sites.
• Improve public transport access and connections between
where people live, work and visit To provide the most direct route and to avoid crossing the light rail
tracks, it will be located on the western side of the light rail corridor
• Connect to the existing light rail service from Central to Lilyfield and mostly within the existing rail corridor, safely separated from
the tracks.
• Assist passengers to take advantage of new connections to
surrounding shopping and entertainment districts such as the A key feature of the GreenWay is the inclusion of bushcare and
Sydney Fish Markets, Star City, Paddy’s Markets, Capitol Square habitat sites along the corridor. The shared path concept has
and Leichhardt Marketplace been strongly supported by councils and community groups.
The first part of the project to be built will be the GreenWay from
• Provide better integration with public transport - allowing Marion Street, Leichhardt to the existing bike network at Lilyfield
passengers to transfer between light rail and a number of bus Road. Design work is underway to confirm the detailed scope of
routes as well as railway stations at Lewisham and Dulwich Hill the shared path.
• Include the GreenWay, which will provide a shared pedestrian Light rail in operation
and cycle path with bushcare sites
When the Inner West Light Rail Extension begins operating in
• Enhance local access and amenity along the disused rail corridor 2012, it will be able to carry approximately 200 passengers per
vehicle. The new service will connect with the existing light rail
• Encourage sustainable and healthy travel options with greater service from Central to Lilyfield.
use of active transport
Light rail stops
• Make best use of a disused government asset
There will be nine new stops at:
• Be a safe and reliable mode of transport and will be delivered in
a sustainable and environmentally friendly way • Leichhardt North
• Be delivered in an efficient and timely manner, while co-operating • Hawthorne
with the community, local government, contractors and other
key stakeholders. • Marion
• Taverners Hill
• Lewisham West
• Waratah Mills
• Arlington
• Dulwich Grove
• Dulwich Hill Interchange.
The stops will provide shelter, seating and meet accessibility
standards. The stop platforms will be approximately 30 metres
in length. Bicycle storage will be available at each new light rail stop,
encouraging active and sustainable transport options to and from
the light rail.
N
IRON
Sydney
COVE Star
John St City
Square
Pyrmont Bay
Rozelle Bay Fish Market
Wentworth Convention
Park
Lilyfield
AL
Exhibition
Leichhardt
AN
Jubilee Park
EC
North Capitol
Glebe
RN
Hawthorne Square
HO
Haberfield Paddy’s Markets
WT
Leichhardt
HA
Central
CENTRAL
Marion
SUMMER HILL Taverners Hill
Lewisham LEWISHAM
West
PETERSHAM
Waratah Mills
Arlington
Dulwich Hill
Dulwich Grove
Dulwich Hill
Interchange
DULWICH HILL
MARRICKVILLE
COOKS RIVER 0 400 800
metres
Legend
Extended light rail New bike and pedestrian path in corridor
Proposed stop New bike path on road
Existing light rail Main roads
Existing stop CityRail
New canal crossing
Operation Location of the Dulwich Hill Interchange stop
The system will have dual tracks and operate in both directions. Responding to community concerns raised by a number of residents
Services are expected to run every 12 – 15 minutes from 6:00am in their submissions during the public exhibition of the Environmental
to 11:00pm (Sunday – Thursday) and to 12:30am (Friday and Assessment, the stop location for Dulwich Hill Interchange was varied
Saturday). Services can be adjusted to meet passenger demand or from the original proposal. The new stop location provides improved
extended during special events. A trip from Dulwich Hill Interchange connectivity between communities and easier access to Jack
to Central will take 36 minutes. Shanahan Park and the GreenWay shared path.
Integration of the Inner West Light Rail with Sydney’s electronic The new stop location also reduces environmental and construction
ticketing system will be pursued. impacts on the surrounding community.
Light rail vehicles Crossing of Marion Street
Light rail vehicles are: Safety is a priority for the Inner West Light Rail Extension project.
A signalised crossing at Marion Street will be built as part of
• Quiet and have low emissions the project.
• Powered by electricity An alternative to building a pedestrian bridge in this location
was considered but discounted because it would have a greater
• Able to carry approximately 200 passengers environmental impact than the proposed signalised crossing, as
well as imposing additional costs and construction impacts on
• Accessible at grade level via multiple exit and entry doors the local community.
• Wide and light, with space for luggage, prams and wheelchairs GreenWay between Davis Street and
Old Canterbury Road (Weston Street)
• Modern, air conditioned and comfortable.
As a result of community feedback, detailed investigations were
How we have listened to community undertaken regarding the possibility of including the GreenWay
feedback within the rail corridor near Weston Street. However, following
careful consideration by Transport NSW the proposed GreenWay
The approval of the Inner West Light Rail Extension follows along Weston Street has been retained.
extensive public consultation, including community information
sessions, meetings with residents and a formal public exhibition Including the GreenWay within the rail corridor would result in
of the Environmental Assessment. The final Inner West Light Rail significantly more environmental impacts than the on-street option
Extension project offers a balanced outcome for residents and and create more visual amenity issues. Investigations also found
future transport users. that locating the GreenWay within the rail corridor presented
significant construction challenges, risks and costs.
Transport NSW responded to submissions made during the public
exhibition period in a Submissions Report. The Submissions Report The main entry for the Waratah Mills stop has however, been
included Transport NSW final schemes for: location of the Dulwich changed to Davis Street, in response to community feedback.
Hill Interchange stop; crossing at Marion Street and the GreenWay
between Davis Street and Old Canterbury Road.
These final schemes have been approved as part of the
planning approval.
Conditions of approval Getting ready – early works nearly
complete
The Minister for Planning has issued conditions of approval for
the project. These conditions are required to: Early works to refurbish the rail tracks between Lilyfield and
Dulwich Hill are nearing completion with the ballast, sleepers
• prevent, minimise, and/or offset adverse environmental impacts; and tracks being placed to ensure a reliable, safe and comfortable
light rail passenger service.
• set standards and performance measures for acceptable
environmental performance; This work has been being carried out under Part 5 of the
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
• require regular monitoring and reporting; and
Next steps
• provide for the ongoing environmental management of the project.
The Inner West Light Rail Extension project team remains
Approval conditions also take into consideration the final Statement committed to effective community consultation and recognises
of Commitments proposed for the project in the Submissions this as an integral part of project delivery. Transport NSW
Report. The Statement of Commitments are measures Transport will continue to involve and inform stakeholders throughout
NSW considers necessary, following community consultation, to the detailed design and construction phases.
reduce and manage existing and potential environmental impacts
resulting from the project. The project is also committed to minimising the construction
impacts on the community and local business. The majority of
Protecting our environment construction works will take place during normal construction
hours (day time); although from time to time there may be
Respecting and protecting the local environment is a priority for some traffic and train movements outside daytime hours.
the Inner West Light Rail Extension project. We will work to minimise The construction of this project will provide approximately
impacts on the surrounding environment. 350 job opportunities, resulting in an additional benefit for
surrounding communities.
The entire project team is committed to caring for the environment
and will maintain the highest standards in environmental practices.
As the Inner West Light Rail Extension follows the existing disused
rail corridor, the impact to the environment is minimised. A number
of bushcare sites along the Inner West Light Rail Extension corridor
are highly valued by the local community and offer refuge for a
variety of local flora and fauna.
We will develop an Environmental Management Plan that will reduce
construction impacts on the environment. This plan will establish
the guidelines and steps that the team must follow to protect the
local environment, including flora and fauna, during construction.
The project team will provide up to date information about construction to all stakeholders.
Transport NSW will communicate this information by:
• Website updates
• Newspaper advertising
• Letter box notification
• 1800 636 910 project information line
• Email: lightrail@transport.nsw.gov.au
More information
Visit the project website for current information and background documents: www.transport.nsw.gov.au
Contact us
Web: www.transport.nsw.gov.au
Email: lightrail@transport.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1800 636 910
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