Infrastructure Australia has endorsed the development phase of the Newcastle-Sydney section of the high-speed rail network.
It’s understood the first stage of the project, linking the two cities, would include six stations – at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International – over the 194-kilometre route.
It also comprises 115km of tunnelling, 41km of surface track and 38km of bridges and viaducts.
According to the business case, the initial delivery and operations from Newcastle to the Central Coast (stage 1A) would be complete by 2037, to reach Sydney Central (stage 1B) by 2039 and Western Sydney International Airport (stage 1C) by 2042.
The High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) is now seeking Australian Government funding to support a two-year development phase (for stages 1A and 1B).
While the Property Council of Australia welcomed the announcement, the organisation also called for stronger coordination between housing, skills, and infrastructure delivery.
“The Infrastructure Australia business case evaluation confirms what industry has long argued,” Hunter and Central Coast regional director Nuatali Nelmes said.
“And, that is high-speed rail can be a catalyst for growth when backed by practical planning and delivery.
“Infrastructure Australia’s report makes it clear: to get full value, governments must align housing supply, workforce capability and infrastructure sequencing.
“The Property Council’s Central Coast Taskforce and Hunter Committee have both expressed support for high-speed rail – for more jobs, private investment and better connections.
“However, we need a clear delivery structure that brings together the Commonwealth, NSW Government, local councils and industry.
“Transport feeder networks, precinct development, land use change and planning permissions are all required to realise the proposal’s benefits.”
Ms Nelmes also stated the report recognised the Hunter and Central Coast’s role as Australia’s largest regional economy, highlighting the corridor would house 24% of Australia’s population, 9.2 million people, by 2061.
“You can’t build a nation-shaping project in isolation,” she said.
“We must plan the homes, skills and local infrastructure that sit around the rail line from day one.
“Broadmeadow, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast precincts will only thrive if we can coordinate utilities, open space, transport and housing together, not years apart.”
Ms Nelmes said transparent sequencing and certainty across the infrastructure pipeline would be vital to managing workforce pressures, too.
“With construction labour already stretched, we need a clear, published schedule so training and procurement can be timed sensibly,” she added.
“The Infrastructure Australia report is an important step forward and puts the onus on government to maintain momentum.
“This project can be transformative for the Hunter and Central Coast.
“We’ve got the vision and local capability – now we need clear governance, housing alignment and regional delivery.”
For further details, visit https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/evaluations/high-speed-rail-newcastle-sydney
PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
The National HSR network is proposed to be delivered in stages to meet the distinct needs of intercity and regional customers across the East Coast.
The business case identifies the following sequence, although stages 2 and 3 will be subject to consultation and guidance from the Australian Government:
Stage 1 connecting Newcastle and Sydney, including:
- Newcastle to the Central Coast
- Central Coast to Sydney Central
- Sydney Central to Western Sydney International Airport
Stage 2 connecting East Coast capitals and regional centres including:
- Melbourne to Regional Victoria
- Canberra to Sydney
- Brisbane to South-East Queensland/Northern NSW
Stage 3 delivering the final connections to complete the East Coast network by connecting:
- Regional Victoria to Canberra
- Newcastle to South-East Queensland/Northern NSW
As the first stage of the network, the Newcastle to Sydney HSR proposal includes:
- Six stations at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International
- Dedicated HSR alignment of 194km in length, including 115km of tunnelling, 41km of surface track and 38km of bridges and viaducts
- Maximum speeds of up to 320kmph outside of tunnelled sections and up to 200kmph within tunnelled sections
- Integration with local and regional transport networks, station precincts and interchanges, parking, and dedicated stabling and trains facility on the Central Coast
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