Western Sydney advocates call for cathedrals not chapels regarding future metro stations

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Western Sydney groups are petitioning the government to reduce engineering standards on the metro west line to save money. Instead, they're arguing the money should go to ensure beautiful station designs on par with the award-winning metro city stations.

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00:00A futuristic design studded with gold and silver art adorns this station, one of the

00:07eight metro city stops.

00:10But there's no guarantee that stations along the Metro West Line will get the same treatment.

00:15We're planning to keep a tight grip on the costs of Sydney Metro across the board.

00:20That's true of the three lines.

00:21We did have billions of dollars of costs blown out under the former government and we simply

00:26can't afford to do that.

00:28These Western Sydney advocates are worried they're getting a discount version.

00:33Why should other parts of Sydney receive greater funding and attention than Western Sydney and

00:38Parramatta?

00:39They commissioned research by 40 architectural design experts and urban planners who concluded

00:45if cost cutting must be done, let it be from the engineering standards.

00:50We picked the highest, the least risky engineering standards from around the world and collectively

00:54that probably has added hugely to the cost of Metro West.

00:57It doesn't come at the expense of safety.

00:59It just comes at the expense of standards that are probably over-engineered.

01:03They're arguing that a striking station design will add cultural and social benefits and

01:07ensure that East and West are treated with the same respect.

01:11I think people in Western Sydney are entitled to stations that are as beautiful as those in

01:16Eastern Sydney.

01:17Metro stations in the city really are cathedrals for rail and I guess what we're saying is

01:22we don't want chapels, we don't want churches, we want cathedrals as well.

01:25A call for fairness from Sydney's rest.

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