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North West Rail Link's Hills Centre station under review

07 Feb, 2012 12:00 AM
AN UPDATED proposal for the North West Rail Link's Hills Centre station could preserve the Castle Hill Showground.

Two options are being considered for the station's location after community feedback supported protecting the showground site.

Detailed railway station design plans are expected to be released after July.

But Castle Hill and Hills Agricultural Society president Peter Gooch, who recently met Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian, said the northern option could see the Hills Centre station built in the vicinity of the showground's cattle rings.

A number of pavilions would also be affected.

Mr Gooch said this could effectively destroy the integrity and functionality of the showground.

Mr Gooch said a southern option, the show society's preference, would see the station and park-and-ride car park located on the soon-to-be vacated Hills council works depot site.

Admitting it was early days, Mr Gooch said this option could affect the horse arena in the long term and some pavilions during the construction phase, but have the least impact on the showground's integrity overall.

"The main aim of the showground society is to make the community aware of the possibility they may not have a showground in the future and keep the integrity of the showground so it remains functional," Mr Gooch said.

The society's preferred southern option would most likely affect the animal nursery, Country Women's Association kiosk, horticulture, cattle, cats, goats and possibly the poultry pavilions and cattle and dog lawns during the rail line's construction.

But Mr Gooch said it could be a win-win situation where the government would rebuild the facilities to the community and patrons' benefit: they could eventually catch the train to the showground.

"[The release of a second option] is a great win for the community and a credit to the government who have clearly listened to our concerns," Mr Gooch said.

A project team spokesman said both options for the Hills Centre station location were being assessed.

"The community will have the chance to comment on both sites as part of the environmental assessment process later this year, prior to the final station location being determined," he said.

"The NSW government does not have a preferred option."

He said the rail-link's project team will undertake precinct-planning activities around The Hills Centre station this year in the lead-up to the second environmental-impact statement to be released in the second half of this year.

An updated proposal for the project includes building stations at Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, The Hills Centre, Norwest Business Park, Kellyville, Cudgegong Road, Bella Vista and Rouse Hill.

Construction is expected to start in 2014.

The Hills Council did not comment on their preferred option but a council spokeswoman said they will consider a report on the amended proposal when NSW Transport advertises an environmental-impact statement that addresses the key issues and environmental assessment requirements for certain stages of the project.

"However council understands there are alignment constraints for heavy rail and we'll work closely with the rail-link team and NSW Transport in determining the optimum location," she said.

Residents can make a submission after July as part of the second EIS or contact the project team, info@northwestrail.com.au or 1800 019 989.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Why not look at moving the station closer to the Victoria Road industrial area. This area gets a lot more people than the showground and would no doubt assist in getting more cars off our roads.
Posted by matt, 9/02/2012 8:20:40 PM, on Hills News
All future Sydney rail lines must be metro and use modern technology. Each future Sydney rail line must integrate into the existing double-deck network but be independent. In building the NWRL, $2billion would be saved on just this one project. This must start with the NWRL.
Posted by Bob Masters, 15/02/2012 11:58:45 AM, on Hills News

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