Why NSW Labor backflipped on George Street light rail
By Jacob Saulwick
Updated June 4, 2015 — 1.34am first published June 3, 2015 — 3.12pm
The Labor Party abandoned its support for light rail in the centre of Sydney "in recent weeks" after its new transport spokesman read old reports and talked to people.
Labor leader Luke Foley told voters he would build the tram line down George Street when he stood for Premier in March.
But Mr Foley changed tack last week, arguing the line would be a disaster even when built and would form a "Berlin Wall" through the city.
The party's transport spokesman, Ryan Park, said Labor's new policy was a recent development and included backing the idea of a bus tunnel under the city.
An artist's impression of the George Street light rail.
"Luke Foley took over with around 12 weeks before that election, and since I've taken over as shadow I've met with stakeholders, I've read a number of serious government reports, including the 2012 Infrastructure NSW report, a very comprehensive report that clearly outlines some concerns about light rail through George Street," said Mr Park, previously Labor's education spokesman.
Mr Park said Labor changed its policy "in recent weeks", after he spent "some time reading, discussing with stakeholders, having a look at previous iterations of these types of projects."
"The leader wanted to discuss some things with me about it and we came to the conclusion that we believe that the best way forward is to terminate at Central and to start to have a serious look at the bus rapid transport that was proposed in the Infrastructure NSW report."
The 2012 Infrastructure NSW report, prepared by former Liberal premier Nick Greiner and public servant Paul Broad, opposed a number of rail projects since adopted by the Coalition government.
The report argued light rail in the city would not work and that a $2 billion bus tunnel would be better. It also opposed the imminent construction of another heavy rail line through the city.
The state government rejected both arguments.
And in a curious inversion, Labor has now accepted both arguments from the former conservative politician. Labor also went to the election saying it would delay construction on another heavy rail crossing of Sydney Harbour for four years.
Mr Park said Labor supported running a light rail line to Central Station, but not through the city.
He said a line down George Street would cause "traffic chaos and congestion" and the government should renegotiate the contract signed in December to build and run the line.
Labor's previous transport spokeswoman, Penny Sharpe, did not come out and support the bus tunnel proposal when it was floated in 2012.
Asked why it had taken until 2015 for the party to back the bus tunnel idea, Mr Park said: "I'm the transport spokesman since 2015 and it's my job now to bring forward a fresh set of eyes.
"I won't speak for what previous people did but I will say that reviewing the documents, discussing it with stakeholders, I honestly think, and I think to be fair some people in government think, that the best way forward is to have a serious reconsideration of what we do in terms of light rail."
The Baird government said last week construction of the light rail line through the city would start on October 23.
The government has not yet explained how it plans to re-route hundreds of buses that currently run down George Street.
Jacob Saulwick
Jacob Saulwick is City Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald.