Rail Link - Economic and Business Impact Assessment

WSP was commissioned by the Transport Infrastructure and Development Corporation (TIDC) to undertake a business and economic impact assessment of building a new 12 kilometre passenger rail line from Glenfield to Leppington in Sydney’s South West – named the South West Rail Link (SWRL), in Australia.

Key features of the proposed SWRL include a new twin track rail line, the development of two new railway passenger stations, an upgrade of a station, and the development of a train stabling facility.

A detailed regional economic and business impact assessment was undertaken as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment. The economic impact assessment involved:

• reviewing key economic indicators in South West Sydney

• reviewing macroeconomic significance of the SWRL

• assessing key regional economic impacts of the SWRL.

The business impact assessment involved:

• reviewing key business indicators in South West Sydney

• conducting a survey to identify businesses affected by the construction and operation of the SWRL corridor and surrounding neighbourhoods

• assessing anticipated positive and negative impacts of constructing and operating the SWRL on businesses identified in the business survey.

The implication of the SWRL for the hierarchy of centres established through the New South Wales Government’s Metropolitan Strategy was also reviewed and potential impacts identified.

The economic analysis provided TIDC with an assessment of the expected impacts of constructing and operating the SWRL. The sources, types, and direction of potential economic impacts were identified, along with a clear account of the overall economic benefits associated with the project.