A rail link connecting the Illawarra to western Sydney has received the backing of major players in the region, including the operators of Port Kembla and the University of Wollongong.
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Called the South West Illawarra Rail Link (SWIRL), the route - which would carry both freight and passenger trains - would be an extension of the partially built Maldon-Dombarton line, and would connect the Illawarra with Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.
An updated report from UOW's SMART Infrastructure and commissioned by advocacy group Illawarra First priced the cost of the line at $3.2 billion.
It also puts forward the idea that the line should extend past the airport to a planned western Sydney freight terminal at St Marys.
This is a change from the original SWIRL proposal put forward several years ago.
"The proposed expansion of the SWIRL concept into St Marys reflects the need to connect western Sydney's warehousing and transport logistics hub to a second port, being Port Kembla, the industrial base of the Illawarra and its highly skilled workforce," said Illawarra First executive director Adam Zarth.
NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas supported the project, saying SWIRL was "critical to the efficient movement of freight to and from Port Kembla".
"It will provide enhanced, direct rail connectivity between Port Kembla and the growing regions of western and south-west Sydney and reduce the growth in trucks on the road network."
UOW vice-chancellor Paul Wellings said SWIRL was a "much-needed rail link" that would connect the Illawarra to jobs in western Sydney.
He also noted it would "bring those from all over greater Sydney here for education, recreation and employment as well".
Mr Zarth also said the report illustrated that time was running out to get started on the rail link, to avoid congestion on existing routes to western Sydney.
"The first stage of a South West Illawarra Rail Link will be necessary by 2036, on account of freight and passenger congestion on the South Coast line, in preparation for the planned container terminal at Port Kembla and to connect the growing population at Wilton," Mr Zarth said.
"This report provides a compelling case for a south-western rail link to be constructed by 2036 to allow residents of the Illawarra and Wollondilly ready access to the 200,000 jobs that will be created in Western Sydney over the next 20 years, and avoid $229 million in economic losses associated with restrictive freight capacity and $680 million in productivity losses due to commuting by 2041."
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