Good afternoon Fellow Residents, Commuters and Petition Supporters
As you are hopefully aware, I have been working on the #MoreParkingNow Petition since March 2018, my discussions with Transport for NSW staff indicate that the St Marys to the Airport line will be built by 2026 as announced recently, the Airport to Macarthur Metro is not planned for another 20 to 25 years and the Leppington to Airport Heavy rail extension (the South West Rail Link) is after that.
That is why I have continued the online Petition and why I have collected 2,000 signatures on a Paper Petition prior to the Covid lockdown so we can trigger a debate this matter in Parliament.
DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE “EXTEND THE SOUTH WEST RAIL LINK PAPER PETITION”
A link to a PDF of the Paper Petition to Extend the South West Rail Link from Leppington Station to the new Western Sydney Airport. You can print off a copy or copies and collect signatures then mail them to me at me PO Box 645 Hoxton Park 2171 which is on the bottom of the form.
2000 Signatures obtained - 8000 to go. We need a Minimum of 10,000 signatures on a Paper Petition in the correct format to lodge it in Parliament House.
ST MARY’s METRO LINE FUNDING APPROVED – Macarthur Misses out again
Original story in the South West Voice https://southwestvoice.com.au/airport-rail-link/
The Prime Minister announced on June 1, 2020 extra Federal Government funding for a metro rail link between the new airport at Badgerys Creek and St Marys.
Mr Morrison said the extra $3.5 billion would mean the metro would be up and running by the time the airport opened in 2026.
But there was no mention of a metro link south of the airport to the booming outer South West Sydney region.
That was left to the Labor leader Anthony Albanese and his man in Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander, to point out that fact.
Labor has renewed its promise of $3 billion to build a rail line from Leppington station to the new airport with a link to the great population centres of Macarthur at Camden, Narellan and Campbelltown (If it gets elected in 2022) however that is a long shot at this time.
Labor says the Prime Minister’s announcement today completely ignored the needs of outer South West Sydney by failing to mention the need for the rail line to extend beyond the aerotropolis and into the growing communities of Macarthur.
“It really is a slap in the face to Macarthur,’’ Mr Albanese said.
“Macarthur residents need local jobs in order to kick start the local economy in the wake of Covid-19.
“If the government was serious about our economic recovery, they would make this rail link a reality.”
The current plan, which has been in place for several years, has a metro to St Marys from the airport and frequent bus services for Macarthur residents. The rail link south could take a decade or more after the airport opens in 2026.
Member for Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander said it was unfathomable that the Coalition Government refused to connect his community to the new airport when it opens.
“The establishment of the South West Rail Link to the airport is a necessary step to create jobs in Macarthur, and support struggling local families and businesses in the process,” Dr Freelander said
“Our economic recovery depends on a bipartisan response to this crisis – it is time the Government provided funding for vital projects outside of Liberal electorates.
“I have worked in a bipartisan manner to address the health crisis, and it is time that the Government do the same in our economic recovery, by funding a rail link for Macarthur.” Said Dr Freelander MP
Michael Andjelkovic the Community Campaigner who has been working on this issue since 2018 said “While this is Great News for the people of the North West Sector I have to ask…….What about rail access for the people of South Western Sydney - Liverpool, MacArthur and even the Illawarra?”
HELP NEEDED TO RESTART THE PAPER PETITION
Unless we act then expect to wait another 20 or 30 years before South Western Sydney will gain rail access to the New Western Sydney Airport under the current plans.
IF everyone who signed the paper Petition could take a signing sheet and bring back 10 signatures that would be great.
IF YOU EMAIL ME AT MICHAEL.INDEPENDENT1@GMAIL.COM I will send you a PM with the PDF of the Petition signature sheet OR use the link in the update
Your Help is still needed to collect signatures for the new paper petition to extend the South West Rail Link from Leppington Station to the new Airport now.
I have changed the Car Parking Crisis Petition main Picture to ask for an extension of the South West Rail Link from Leppington Station to Airport with at least three stations NOW.
Message me via my Facebook Page www.facebook.com/Michael.Independent
To check for Updates about Edmondson Park or Leppington Stations use the links below
LEPPINGTON STATION Last Update 15th May 2020 https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/leppington-commuter-car-park
EDMONDSON PARK STATION Last Update 22nd May 2020 https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/edmondson-park-commuter-car-park
Yours Sincerely
Michael Andjelkovic JP
Independent Community Campaigner for Liverpool