A developer is offering to help fund the Sydney Metro West project, which the Premier is reconsidering because of cost blowouts.
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00:00 Chris Minns is digging in, refusing to guarantee the promised underground rail line between
00:07 the city and Parramatta.
00:08 If we make a decision to axe the project, then you can take my head off then, but in
00:13 the meantime, let's let this review do its job.
00:16 Two tunnel boring machines began digging from the Bays precinct last month.
00:21 So far, they've made it to Roselle.
00:23 The project is on track to exceed $25 billion.
00:27 The Premier says more stations may be needed to justify the expense.
00:31 And now a developer is reviving an offer to help pay for one.
00:36 We've agreed previously to contribute up to a quarter of a billion dollars, or half the
00:41 cost of the underground station.
00:44 He's part of an alliance of landowners at Camellia, just east of Parramatta.
00:48 In exchange for the contribution, they want to be allowed to build more homes.
00:52 If we receive a benefit of an uplift in density, we'd contribute money back to fund the station.
00:59 The former industrial site is contaminated, and the cost of remediation makes development
01:04 unprofitable.
01:06 Partnering with developers or interested parties to deliver infrastructure is not new.
01:11 If developer contributions can be obtained, well that's a good thing for the New South
01:15 Wales taxpayer and the commuter.
01:16 But I don't want to see this project held up.
01:19 The Premier is also facing pressure from the Lord Mayor.
01:22 Clover Moore is urging the government not to walk away from Metro West, saying the project
01:27 is too important to axe.
01:30 If additional stations are required to ameliorate cost increases, they should be considered.
01:35 Maybe 100,000 homes could be delivered through West Metro.
01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]