Since 2020, the Metro West Project update has shown significant progress. Work began at The Bays, and in March 2021, the project received its first major planning approval for the Project Concept between Westmead and the Sydney CBD, including station excavation and tunnelling between Westmead and The Bays. The second major approval came in September 2022 for station excavation and tunnelling between The Bays and Sydney CBD.
A third planning application was submitted in 2022 for rail infrastructure, stations, precincts, and operations between Westmead and the Sydney CBD, which was approved in 2023. Sydney Metro has also begun planning for over and adjacent station development at Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, Hunter Street (West and East), and Pyrmont. In April 2024, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure granted approval for over-station development at Hunter Street Station East and Hunter Street Station West.
Environmental Impact Statements for over-station development at Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, and Pyrmont are currently under assessment. In December 2023, following an independent review into Sydney Metro, it was announced that Sydney Metro would prepare scoping studies for up to two potential station locations west of Sydney Olympic Park, including one at Rosehill Gardens, which could support a significant increase in housing.
For those affected by
compulsory acquisition projects in Sydney, FM Legal remains at the forefront, providing expert guidance and support. We continue to monitor and address concerns related to
Sydney Metro West's compulsory acquisitions and other significant projects such as the
M12 upgrade project.
April 28, 2020
Flo Mitchell
Covid 19 will not stop Sydney Metro from compulsory acquisition of the homes and businesses being taken for its new rail line. If anything, the Minister has said the State will "go harder and faster" to acquire the land for the project. We are acting for many owners of land and tenants who are concerned that if there is a decrease in the market value of their land due to Covid 19, that Sydney Metro will use this as an opportunity to pay less to impacted owners. We will have an interesting and challenging few months ahead of us as the property market reacts but also where the volume of sales is massively impacted downwards. The lack of listings and record low volumes of new sales is virtually unheard of in the Sydney market. The Metro team's reference to the project being "business as usual" will be challenged as we learn to interpret a very limited sales market. It will be at least a year if not longer before the Land and Environment Court will be dealing with these cases and for some, looking at expediting cases will be a likely option.
Source:
Sydney Morning Herald
