Regional Development Australia Central Coast (RDACC) has welcomed geotechnical testing in the region to help determine the best route for a 30-minute rail link between the Central Coast and Sydney.
The link between Newcastle and Sydney is the first stage of a major project to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne with regional areas via high-speed rail.
The High Speed Rail Authority announced last week that tunnels under Brisbane Water and the Hawkesbury River could well be the most expedient route.
Acting Chair Anna Cruckshank said the RDACC committee had collaborated with Regional Development Australia Hunter (RDA Hunter) over many years to advocate for high-speed rail for the two regions.
“The committee has offered its assistance and support to the High-Speed Rail Authority in the business case being developed for the first stage of this transformational project, that will connect the two largest cities in NSW to Sydney,” she said.
“The Hunter and Central Coast regions are expected to grow by 22 per cent to nearly 1.2 million residents by the early 2040s.
“High-speed rail has the potential to reduce travel times for commuters and visitors to our regions and to deliver new housing, trade, tourism and related regional economic development opportunities.”
Cruckshank said the RDACC committee looked forward to the delivery of the business case for the Newcastle to Sydney stage that was expected to be delivered to the Government by the end of this year.
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