Inner Sydney councils are requesting better facilities for walking and cycling as well as extra train stations as part of the Baird government's $12 billion metro line through central Sydney.
In submissions to the project, which will connect to the $8.3 billion Sydney Metro North West at Chatswood and join the existing Bankstown Line at Sydenham, councils urged the government not to waste the opportunities created by the new line.
The City of Sydney Council and the Inner West Council are pushing for an extra station to be added near the Ashmore estate development at the border of Alexandria and Erskineville.
Apartments will be built for about 6000 residents in the former industrial precinct at Ashmore in the next decade. But there are no rail stations planned for the area, because of the gap of about four kilometres between a proposed Waterloo stop and Sydenham.
However, the councils are also urging better cycle and pedestrian paths be built as part of the project. For instance, the Inner West Council is pushing for new cycling and pedestrian links through St Peters to link in with cycle routes promised as part of the WestConnex motorway.
North of the harbour, Willoughby Council and North Sydney Council have concerns about public access and amenity around new and old train stations.
At Chatswood, the Nelson Street bridge over the existing rail tracks is proposed to be removed to help facilitate the construction of the new rail tunnels.
In its submission to the environmental impact statement for the metro line, Willoughby Council has proposed a new shared pedestrian and cycle bridge be built across the tracks to enable connectivity across the area.
And North Sydney Council is calling for better pedestrian connections between a new Victoria Cross Station and North Sydney Station. The council has suggested an underground pedestrian link.
Sydney Metro is assessing submissions and is due to start construction on the new line next year.
