Spending billions to drill a tunnel may not be the solution to the region’s rail problems, said Illawarra Business Chamber’s Chris Lamont.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Reports surfaced earlier this week about a 2014 document Rail Corridors Strategy Sydney to Wollongong, which included a tunnel from Thirroul to Waterfall.
The estimated cost of the tunnel is $2.9 billion and could cut around 22 minutes off the Wollongong-Sydney commute.
The chamber’s executive director Mr Lamont said a tunnel might not be the best value for money when it comes to improving the South Coast line.
“It may not be the best spend,” Mr Lamont said.
“I think we need to look at a range of options on the south line to improve speed and reliability but a tunnel itself may not provide the best benefit for this region.”
In recent weeks the discussion has revolved around whether to build the F6 extension or upgrade the rail line – Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward has said he felt both were necessary.
That’s a sentiment echoed by Mr Lamont, though he saw rail as the top priority, labelling it as “a multi-generational investment”.
And also an expensive one – whether or not a tunnel is dug.
“The problem we’ve got with the south line is the topography and the expense of doing upgrades,” Mr Lamont said.
“That’s not to say upgrades shouldn’t be done – they definitely should be done, but it’s going to be an expensive proposition in anyone’s language.”
Mr Lamont felt improved connections to western Sydney should also be under consideration, rather than the focus on road and rail links to central Sydney.
“I think the bigger issue for the region and for the state is connecting employment centres,” he said.
“We know one of the fastest-growing employment areas is that west and south west corridor of Sydney. Whilst the south line is important we think we also need to be focusing on that west and south west area of Sydney.”
Statistics show substantially more people driving to Sydney along the F6 in the peak periods than catch a South Coast line train.
Mr Lamont believed those people didn’t choose to “sign up for the frustrations” of driving to Sydney for work every day.
“I think the speed – the time it takes on rail – combined with difficulties around park and ride is almost forcing people to the road,” he said.
“If you can’t have a secure place to park your car to get on the train, if the train’s taking you an hour 40 minutes one way, people will feel they have no alternative but to drive their motor vehicles.”