SMH editorial...
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Sydney Metro line appears to be off the rails again
The Minns government is running a slow-train-coming strategy on building vital transport infrastructure,
repeatedly missing its own timetable for awarding the final contracts for Sydney’s largest metro rail project.
The delays have thrown into doubt the ability of contractors to complete the $29 billion underground line between the central city and Parramatta on time by 2032.
The Herald’s Matt O’Sullivan reports that Sydney Metro documents show the government agency has frequently deferred forecast dates for awarding multibillion-dollar contracts over the past 18 months.
Reasons for the delays include the installation of electrical and mechanical equipment for the automated railway; the construction of five stations at Westmead, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and The Bays at Rozelle; other contracts for trains and systems, and operations and maintenance.
Adjunct professor at Sydney University’s Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, Martin Locke, said
contracting delays would lead to cost increases and add to pressure on contractors to complete Metro West by the scheduled opening date. “The longer you drag these things out, the more scope there is for other factors to change,” he said. “It begs the question of what is causing the hold-up in the awarding of contracts. It is already behind schedule.”
The government rebooted the project in December 2023 to “a more sustainable timeline”, delaying the opening by two years to 2032. At the time, it said the extra construction period would mean “taxpayers will not be paying a premium to deliver the project”.
Experts warned at the time that the cost of building extra stations and altering its alignment would add billions of dollars to the project’s existing price tag of $25.3 billion, which under the previous government’s plans comprised nine stations.
Then, earlier this month, the government confirmed the cost of Metro West would blow out by as much as $3.7 billion to $29 billion, but sought to lay blame on the previous government.
Sydney is worthy of such city-defining projects like Metro West. They will reshape the way we live, work and play for generations to come, and it should not be forgotten that Labor opposed the privatisation agenda that allowed the then-Coalition government to fund them.
But after nearly three years in office, continuing to blame the past is losing its political lustre.
However, the blow out is serious money, even in a state as big as NSW and a city as large as Sydney, and the government can do little but set its sights on completing the existing projects and rebuilding the ageing heavy rail network.
The government last week released its draft Sydney Plan, projecting 20 years ahead with 6.5 million residents around more than 40 “interconnected centres” to provide most jobs and services. Given such massive growth, the demand for new infrastructure is patent. Yet when it comes to trains, not only is the government failing to build more for the future, it cannot even manage to finish the projects started by the Coalition.
www.abc.net.au
