Design, landscape plan revealed for Sydney's $2B M12 project

Design, landscape plan revealed for Sydney’s $2B M12 project

Artist impression of aerial view west over Airport Interchange.

Public consultation is now open for the design and landscape plan for the future of the M12 Motorway in Sydney.

The design concept includes landscaping ideas, innovative Aboriginal art and also shared walking and cycling paths across 81 hectares of roadside corridor from Cecil Hills to Luddenham.

Recommendations from the Darug community in the region helped to influence the initial plans, with Aboriginal design agency Balarinji working with local Aboriginal artists to design an emu-inspired sculpture, which is inspired by the ‘Great Emu in the Sky’ constellation.

73,000 trees will also be planted along the corridor of the M12, which will also include the preservation of wildlife passages in Cosgrove, South, Kemps and Badgerys Creeks.

The M12 is a new 16-kilometre dual-carriageway motorway, linking Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the Western Parkland City to the Northern Road in the west, and to the M7 in the east via Elizabeth Drive.

On behalf of the Australian and NSW governments, Roads and Maritime Services is planning the M12 Motorway as part of the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan. The $2 billion project (funded by by both the Federal and State governments, on an 80:20 basis) is expected to provide improved access to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, as well as increase road capacity, road safety, freight movement and reduce congestion throughout the community.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said the Commonwealth is investing billions of dollars in critical infrastructure across Western Sydney.

“The Morrison Government has committed $1.6 billion to deliver the M12, which is expected to create better access to the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and enable investment in job-creating industries across the region,” Minister Fletcher said.

“The M12 is one of many significant infrastructure projects that the Commonwealth is funding to help attract businesses, jobs and investment to western Sydney, along with efficient transport connections and well planned urban spaces for its residents.”

Federal Member for Lindsay, Melissa McIntosh, said the plan will improve the M12’s connectivity with local transport links and the community.

“I want local people to spend less time in traffic, and more time building their business or being at home with their family. That’s why we’re investing in the road upgrades we need to improve traffic flow around our community,” Mcintosh said.

An Arcadis and Jacobs joint venture has led the concept designs for the project. In June this year, companies shortlisted to build two of three sections of the new M12 motorway were officially announced following approval from the NSW Government.

For the west section, which will be a six-kilometre section from The Northern Road at Luddenham to around 250 metres east of Badgerys Creek, Acciona, Fulton Hogan, and CPB Georgiou Group JV have been shortlisted. The west section will connect to the Western Sydney International Airport with an interchange at Elizabeth Drive.

CPB Georgiou Group JV, as well as Seymour Whyte, has also been shortlisted for the central section, which will be a 7.5 kilometre section from west of South Creek to Duff Road.

Work on the M12 Motorway is expected to start in 2022 and will be completed prior to the Western Sydney International Airport opening in 2026. The project is expected to support up to 2400 jobs during construction.

The consultation period for the project runs until November 28.

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