[Greens-Media] New CBD Metro Authority another costly mistake: Greens

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 27 November 2008

New Sydney Metro Authority another costly mistake

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says the NSW
government's plan to establish a separate Sydney Metro Authority to
manage its CBD metro plans is misguided and wasteful and will further
fragment the management of Sydney's transport system.

The Metro Rail Bill 2008 is now before the Legislative Assembly in NSW
Parliament.

"Transport Minister David Campbell is wasting public money and
resources in establishing a separate authority to manage one misguided
CBD metro plan, which considering this government's track record on
earlier metro plans may never be built.  

"A separate authority is completely at odds with Minister Campbell's
recent call for 'greater accountability and co-ordination of rail, buses
and ferries'. 

"The Greens will ask the government to put on the public record the
estimated costs of establishing and operating this new authority.

"Premier Rees is building another transport authority for a CBD metro
mini-plan which is ill-thought through, expensive and may well take
decades to deliver. 

"There are already 10 transport agencies in NSW, many working in silos.


"In other states and internationally, co-ordinated transport planning
is the buzz word. NSW is yet again moving in completely the opposite
direction.

"Sydney needs integrated public transport planning, not another
separate agency going about its business in isolation.

"Public transport across inner Sydney has a reputation for being
fragmented and  dysfunctional. 

"Establishing a separate tin pot authority which sometime in the future
may expand on the government's feeble plans for a CBD metro is another
sign of its failure to properly manage public transport in this state.

"Mr Campbell told parliament yesterday that, 'metros represent the
future of Sydney's transport'. This should make co-ordinated transport
planning for metro a priority," Ms Rhiannon said.

The Greens policy is for an integrated NSW Transport Co-ordination
Authority.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568 
Minister Campbell's second reading speech for the bill is below.

TRANSPORT ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT (METRO RAIL) BILL 2008

Bill introduced on motion by Mr David Campbell.

Agreement in Principle

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL (Keira—Minister for Transport, and Minister for the
Illawarra) [4.38 p.m.]: I move:

That this bill be now agreed to in principle.

I am pleased to introduce the Transport Administration Amendment (Metro
Rail) Bill 2008 to the House. The objective of this bill is to amend the
Transport Administration Act 1988 to enable the establishment of a
Sydney Metro Authority. This authority will be put in charge of
developing and managing the CBD Metro and any potential future stages of
a Sydney metro system. This bill enables the New South Wales Government
to get on with the job of creating a new mode of public transport for
Sydney. Not only will the metro be a great new form of public transport,
it will also link to buses, rail and light rail, and improve the overall
transport system meaning less waiting, less crowding and more
reliability. 

As members are aware, the New South Wales mini-budget allocated $1.8
billion in the forward estimates to start developing a metro system for
Sydney. The mini-budget is about taking financially responsible
decisions, and that is why the Government has put aside sufficient funds
to commence a metro system for Sydney in which the CBD Metro is the
number one priority and the first stage. In these tough economic times
we must be realistic about what we can deliver. That is why the
Government has earmarked enough money in the mini-budget to start a
metro system for Sydney and it will continue working closely with the
Federal Government to see how a potential co-contribution through
Infrastructure Australia could enable further expansion of a metro
networ
k.

Members on this side of the House have made it clear that the New South
Wales Government is certain that a metro system is part of this great
city's future. Despite the budget constraints, we want to proceed with
the CBD Metro as quickly as possible to ensure we have the transport
capacity for growth and jobs in the central business district. The
latest estimate is that by 2036 there will be six million people living
in Sydney. Providing them with a new metro system starts with the CBD
Metro, which is clearly the enabler of future metros. It will be the
spine of the Sydney metro system and other routes can be attached to it.
It is pivotal that the metro works in an integrated manner with the
other modes of transport to maximise the public transport network. That
is why the Government is actively pursuing the integration of the metro
system with the redevelopment of Central station to cater for a smooth
London tube-style interchange bringing commuters from the west through
the central business district.
<38>
We are also planning a bus interchange in Rozelle, so that commuters
travelling on buses on the Victoria Road corridor can interchange
swiftly from one mode of transport to another, thus increasing capacity
and reducing bus traffic on busy CBD streets.

The Government is committed to making this happen, which is why we are
establishing the Sydney Metro Authority, whose only focus will be on
delivering this new public transport mode for Sydney. Metros represent
the future of Sydney's transport. The CBD Metro is the first phase, with
the creation of a dedicated, focussed authority that will ensure the
effective delivery of a world-class Metro product. As well as providing
the foundation for a network of metros, the CBD Metro will provide a
much-needed new high-capacity transport corridor through the city,
relieving passenger congestion at Town Hall and Wynyard stations. It is
important to understand that presently there are capacity constraints
through the CBD, with Central station effectively acting as a bottleneck
during peak hours for trains to and from the south, the south-west, the
west, and the north. With the CBD Metro, the CityRail network will be
able to schedule more trains into Central from the west for quick and
easy interchange to the CBD Metro. One cause of the major bottleneck at
Central today is that the 15 platforms in the country and interstate
section at Central are underutilised. By making more use of this
existing infrastructure and linking it with the CBD Metro, the
Government is maximising its transport infrastructure investment.

It is plain to see that the CBD Metro will provide relief to the
congested CBD. It provides for a substantial increase in capacity on the
existing CityRail network and it provides for future expansion of the
metro network. The principal functions of the Sydney Metro Authority
will be to develop safe and reliable metro railway systems for Sydney.
The proposed Sydney Metro Authority will be the governing body
responsible for the development and delivery of the CBD Metro and
possible future schemes. The Sydney Metro Authority will have overall
responsibility for management of delivery and commissioning of the CBD
Metro by 2015; management of the development of other metro lines as
directed by Government; and oversight of ongoing CBD Metro operations
including dictating service delivery and standards to any private
operator. It is important to understand that once a metro line is
established and operational, Sydney Metro's role will change and it will
dictate service delivery and service standards to the operator as well
as undertake further planning for potential expansion of the metro
network on behalf of the Government. 

Sydney Metro Authority will be established under governance
arrangements similar to those applicable to other statutory authorities
under the Transport Act such as the State Transit Authority and,
following the passing of the Transport Administration Amendment (Rail
and Ferry Transport 
Authorities) Bill 2008 in the upper House last
night, RailCorp and Sydney Ferries. To achieve maximum value for the
taxpayer, it is essential that the New South Wales Government have an
organisation that can draw from specialised, international expertise in
the design, construction and operation of metro systems. It is also
important to ensure that the Government has an organisation that is
focused solely on the demands of delivering a world-class metro system
for Sydney. The scale of the investment, the need for tight project
control and the need for rapid performance to deliver the CBD Metro and
future extensions all combine to necessitate the establishment of a
special authority.

Importantly, the authority will focus on the long-term success of the
metro service, not just the construction phase. The New South Wales
Government is determined to take this very significant next step in
public transport infrastructure for Sydney. Metro will provide immediate
benefits to the CBD's transport capacity, and will pave the way for
further enhancements to a Sydney metro system. For these reasons, the
Government has introduced this bill and I commend it to the House. 

Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Daryl Maguire and set down as an order
of the day for a future day.


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au