Light rail plan

An extension of Sydney's light rail network to Randwick linking the University of New South Wales, Royal Randwick Racecourse and the retail heart of Randwick will be examined as part of a pre-feasibility study announced this week.

UNSW, Randwick City Council and the Australian Turf Club are co-funding the preliminary study to examine the feasibility, engineering challenges, potential patronage and indicative costs of the proposed line.

The route, running south along Anzac Parade, will link major Sydney attractions including the sporting stadiums, Entertainment Quarter, Royal Randwick Racecourse, Centennial Park and Moore Park, UNSW, four major hospitals, NIDA, Randwick TAFE and the centres of Kensington, Kingsford and Randwick.

The study, to be conducted by engineers GHD, will examine a route on Anzac Parade with a suggested extension along High Street connecting back with Anzac Parade via the Belmore Road retail centre and Alison Road.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer said: "Extending light rail to Randwick is an issue of critical importance to the University. We're delighted that the Government has moved quickly to honour its commitment to establish a feasibility study into the project.

"The University has partnered with Randwick Council and the ATC to commission this pre-feasibility study with the aim of providing basic data on a range of relevant issues, which can then feed into the Government's study. We hope it can make a valuable contribution and look forward to working with the Government to make this vital project a reality."

Randwick Mayor Murray Matson said the pre-feasibility study would directly contribute to the State Government's promised eastern suburbs light rail feasibility study.

"This will give the State Government a head start," Mayor Matson said. "We're working closely with them and look forward to sharing our findings.

"We're putting our cards on the table and proposing a route that will provide a dedicated public transport service for 42,000 UNSW students, 13,200 hospital and uni workers, 11,000 resident commuters, 7,000 TAFE students, 400,000 race-goers and millions more people who go to concerts, games and events at the sporting stadiums and Centennial Parks.

"Light rail would also open up Randwick, Kensington and Kingsford businesses, with Sydney visitors more likely to visit the area with a light rail system with dedicated stops.

"Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Randwick area every day to shop, work, study, play and visit world-class hospitals and medical institutes. We need a transport system to efficiently move people around while planning for the future needs of the area."

Australian Turf Club CEO Darren Pearce said: "The people of Sydney would benefit greatly if the Government were to deliver critical light rail to Sydney's playground incorporating Royal Randwick, SFS, SCG, Entertainment Quarter and Centennial Parklands.

"I am sure that an investment of this kind would make it easier to win major events for Sydney and grow existing sporting, music and cultural festivals by providing clean, modern and convenient transport right to our doorstep."

The study is expected to be completed in the next few months.

You can view the proposed route for investigation and make comments about bringing back light rail on the community consultation website.

UNSW media contact: Judy Brookman, 9385 3249 | 0421 061 251