City of Parramatta Council Lord Mayor Cr Andrew Wilson has called for Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail to go ahead following recent media reports suggesting the project is in doubt.
"The second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail project is crucial for the City of Parramatta as it will play a significant role in connecting the City's newer neighbourhoods to the CBD. It will also link these suburbs with key public transport hubs, including future Metro stations," Cr Wilson said.
Extending from the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park, Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is expected to connect developing suburbs such as Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.
"Given the City's growing population, Parramatta Light Rail will be a vital piece of infrastructure that will help ensure the needs of existing and future developments are met. Without Stage 2, the existing challenges of public transport in and around these newer areas will remain unresolved.
"While I understand that time and capital limitations may mean that such infrastructure can't be delivered all at once, it is essential that Stage 2 remains part of the committed transport solution, as the roads around Parramatta are already under extraordinary stress. Council is particularly committed to the construction of a public transport bridge from Melrose Park to Wentworth Point, which is a key part of Stage 2.
"Parramatta has contributed heavily to the Premier's goal to increase housing supply by providing the largest number of housing approvals in NSW, but the City needs the continued commitment of the State Government to provide the necessary infrastructure to support this growth."