F6 Extension Stage 1 Submission from the Illawarra Business Chamber to Roads and Maritime Services Illawarra Business Chamber Level 1, 87-89 Market Street Wollongong NSW 2500 (p) (02) 4229 4722 (e) [email protected] 27 July 2018 F6 Extension Stage 1 2 Summary The Illawarra Business Chamber (IBC) welcomes the NSW Government’s commitment to commence Stage 1 works of the F6 Extension and the opportunity to provide feedback on this proposal. The IBC recognises that this consultation is focussed on the intended planning and delivery of Stage 1. Even so, this submission will highlight the benefits to be realised through bringing forward the planning and projected delivery of Stage 2 and Stage 3 works, and discuss the findings and projections detailed in the report Upgrading Road Connectivity Between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney (May 2018) commissioned by Illawarra First together with the NRMA and conducted by Veitch Lister Consulting (VLC), which in part addresses the F6 Extension. Key Findings The IBC notes the significant benefits to be realised through advancing the timings for the complete F6 Extension, in addition to concurrent infrastructure works. Key findings of this submission, consistent with the aforementioned report, highlight the need for government to consider the F6 project in its entirety, and as complementing other works: - Key Finding 1 Without intervention, congestion and travel times from the Illawarra to Greater Sydney will steadily increase and the cost of delays is estimated at $640 million per annum by 2031, impacting business and employment opportunities. - Key Finding 2 The F6 Extension Stage 1 will save commuters 6 minutes along the length of the new road, 12 minutes once Stages 2 and 3 are complete. - Key Finding 3 The total economic benefits of completing Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the F6 Extension are $677 million per year in 2031. Of this, the value to the Illawarra would be around $67 million per year. - Key Finding 4 Development of the South West Illawarra Rail Link (SWIRL) would yield economic benefits of $74 million per year, complementing the F6 Extension and improvements to the South Coast Line and further reducing congestion and improving travel times. Recommendations Accordingly, the Chamber recommends that the NSW Government: - Recommendation 1 Bring forward the planning and development of Stages 2 and 3 of the F6 Extension, noting the importance of extending planning to encompass transport between Greater Sydney and the Illawarra and South Coast and the benefits to be realised inside projected timeframes. - Recommendation 2 Consider short-term measures to relieve congestion along the Princes Highway (F6 Extension Stage 4 corridor) including (but not limited to) targeted intersection treatments at Heathcote Road, the Princes Highway at Engadine and Farrell Avenue and Rawson Avenue near Loftus. - Recommendation 3 Commit to concurrent planning and development of the full length of the F6 Extension and SWIRL. The Chamber looks forward to working with government and other stakeholders to inform and progress these important considerations. F6 Extension Stage 1 3 Contents Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Key Findings ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Illawarra Business Chamber/Illawarra First ........................................................................................... 4 Overview of the Illawarra ...................................................................................................................... 4 Importance of road connectivity between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney ...................................... 5 F6 Extension (SouthConnex) ..................................................................................................................... 6 Benefits to be realised ........................................................................................................................... 6 Stage 1 – Arncliffe to President Ave ...................................................................................................... 9 Stages 2 and 3 – (President Ave to Taren Point) and (Taren Point to Loftus) ....................................... 9 Stage 4 – Loftus to Waterfall ............................................................................................................... 10 Concurrent development of the South West Illawarra Rail Link ......................................................... 10 Attachments ............................................................................................................................................ 13 F6 Extension Stage 1 4 Introduction This submission provides the comments and perspective of the Illawarra Business Chamber (IBC) on the F6 Extension Stage 1 (connecting the new M5 Motorway at Arncliffe to President Avenue at Kogarah), as articulated in the Project Overview document (June 2018).1 The IBC welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Project Overview, as well as the NSW Government’s commitment to commence Stage 1 works in Budget 2018-19, which is an important first step towards improving transport connectivity between the Sydney CBD, Southern Sydney and through to the Illawarra and South Coast. The Chamber recognises that consultation is focussed on the intended planning and delivery of Stage 1 of the F6 Extension. However, the full benefit of travel savings for people travelling between Wollongong and the Sydney CBD – estimated to be 27 minutes – will only be realised when Stages 2 and 3 are delivered. Accordingly, the Chamber’s submission will highlight the benefits to be realised through bringing forward the planning and projected delivery of Stage 2 and Stage 3 works, and discuss the findings and projections detailed in the report Upgrading Road Connectivity Between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney, which in part addresses the F6 Extension as a whole. Illawarra Business Chamber/Illawarra First The IBC is the Illawarra region’s peak business organisation and is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes maximise their potential. Through initiatives such as Illawarra First, the IBC promotes the economic development of the Illawarra through evidence-based policies and targeted advocacy. The Chamber is a Division of the NSW Business Chamber – a founding member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Illawarra First membership comprises a select group of leading businesses in the Illawarra, sharing a commitment to driving the development and prosperity of the Illawarra.2 Through their leadership and direction, the Chamber has commissioned research on road and rail connectivity between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney, which is referenced in this submission. Overview of the Illawarra The Illawarra region lies immediately south of the Sydney Metropolitan area, with its economic centre in Wollongong, 85 kms south of the Sydney CBD. The region, defined by the five LGAs of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee: - is the third largest economy in NSW behind Sydney and Western Sydney, contributing $25.6 billion to the state’s economy each year, - is an increasingly diverse economic region, with over 27,000 businesses, of which 96% are small businesses, - has a workforce of some 177,000 which has also shown steady growth in recent years, 1 NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, F6 Extension – Stage 1, <http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-south/f6/index.html>, accessed 13 June 2018. 2 Illawarra Business Chamber, Illawarra First Membership, <https://www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au/About/Our- Locations/Illawarra-Region/About-Illawarra-Region/Illawarra-First-Members>, accessed 14 June 2018. F6 Extension Stage 1 5 - contributes in excess of $16 billion in goods and services to the NSW economy, - is home to over 455,000 people and an expected population of about 525,000 by 2036, and - plays a key role in the state economy through its traditional manufacturing base and thriving ICT, education, tourism, construction, health and aged care industries.3 Importance of road connectivity between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney Transport connectivity between Greater Sydney and the Illawarra is an issue of fundamental importance to the region, which constrains economic growth, opportunities and the lived experience of its residents. Recognising the importance of this issue, Illawarra First and the National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA) commissioned Veitch Lister Consulting (VLC) to examine and provide a comprehensive analysis of the region’s transport connectivity, identifying the challenges facing the Illawarra over the next 20 years. The Report, Upgrading Road Connectivity Between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney, makes recommendations to ensure the region remains connected to growing opportunities presented by Greater Sydney, including Western Sydney. The Report highlights the experience of some 30,600 commuters travel to Greater Sydney every day, 24,050 of these by road, and 15,800 travel from outside