News by Andrew Potts
Premium Content  THE ballooning cost of the Gold Coast light rail system has sparked fears future stages and major infrastructure projects will be rendered unaffordable. The stalled 6.7km Broadbeach to Burleigh tram extension was put back on track after the federal government intervened with a $126 million lifeline last week, but the project will now cost more than $1 billion to deliver, with the state also chipping in more than $200 million. With stage 3 now set to cost more than $150 million a kilometre, both supporters and critics of the system say they are concerned about the spiking costs. Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 is back on track.
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The under-construction Western Sydney Airport will capitalise on a red-hot air freight market by opening itself up to expressions of interest from cargo operators keen to utilise its terminals from Thursday morning.
While the airport â named after the founder of the Australian Women Pilotsâ Association, Nancy Bird Walton â has already signed agreements with 12 air freighters including Qantas, Virgin, FedEx and Australia Post, chief executive Simon Hickey said this process would let it to better configure the precinct.
âThose [memorandums of understanding] are more bilateral. Now, If theyâve got an interest we can get into more definitive discussions about what their needs are and how they fit in with the airport,â he said.
First airport rail images released, as long-delayed project inches closer theage.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theage.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher says the $5.3 billion Western Sydney Airport is on track to be open by 2026.
Mr Fletcher said the airport would carry 10 million passengers a year and would generate 28,000 direct and indirect jobs within five years of its opening, notwithstanding jobs created during construction.
"This is part of a much bigger plan. The Commonwealth and NSW governments again working together on the Metro, the rail connection to the airport with a $5.25 billion Commonwealth commitment," he said.
"There's the M12 motorway which will connect to the airport. There's The Northern Road; $1.6 billion project, 35km, six stages, three of them complete.
"It's three levels of government working together to deliver jobs, deliver economic opportunity. We're not just building an airport, a rail line, or roads, we're transforming Western Sydney."