NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today announced a new underground railway station at Barangaroo will be part of the plans for the new Sydney Metro – Australia’s biggest public transport project.

The NSW Budget 2015-16 includes $84 million to continue planning and development for the second harbour rail crossing as part of Sydney Metro.

“The dramatic urban renewal occurring on the western edge of the CBD is Sydney’s own Canary Wharf – it’s crucial to the State’s economic future,” Mr Baird said.

“The addition of a Sydney Metro station is a game-changer for Barangaroo and the tens of thousands of people who will work there every day.”

Delivering Sydney Metro to Barangaroo will mean:

• Eased congestion at Wynyard and Martin Place stations, reducing crowding at these stations by about 5,000 people in the morning peak alone;;
• A new east-west connection across the CBD, connecting the new financial hub at Barangaroo with the existing financial centre at Martin Place; and
• Easy access to new ferry services from the proposed Barangaroo Wharf.

The station will also service the Walsh Bay arts precinct, King Street Wharf and Barangaroo headland park, estimated to attract 10,000 visitors each day.

“Sydney Metro will take Barangaroo to the next level as Australia’s new commercial centre,” Mr Constance said.

“This is a common-sense decision to combine our new world-class metro rail system with our new world class business hub. The new Barangaroo railway station will support an $8 billion economic catchment within a 10 minute walk of the station.”

The new station, expected to be located at Central Barangaroo, will be factored into the Sydney Metro business case, community and industry consultation and the planning process for the project.

To incorporate the new underground station, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority will commence a new tender process for the development of Central Barangaroo.

A working group will be formed – including the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Transport for NSW, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and Treasury – to consider issues such as station location, design and configuration, aligning the timing of Sydney Metro and Central Barangaroo construction and the optimal scale of Central Barangaroo in light of the increased transport capacity.