Light rail to lift property values on western line An artist's impression of the propoesd light rail line in Western Sydney Source: Supplied A LIGHT rail network linking Sydney's west to jobs in the north would see land values along the line uplift 1.3 times their value, new modelling suggests. Parramatta Lord Mayor John Chedid said he wanted to take the bold plan, which would link the western capital to Castle Hill and Macquarie Park job centres, to the private sector. Assuming the light rail proposal was finished by 2031, it would create 22,584 additional jobs, with new offices and workers generating an extra $3 billion. "The State Government recently launched an Expression of Interest process for the Sydney CBD light rail, which generated significant interest from the market place," Mr Chedid said. We know there are two or three strong consortiums of world-class light rail companies preparing bids for the Sydney CBD light rail. We're asking them to have a look at our light rail proposal, which has a strong case. Council has already been approached by several private investors interested in our proposal. However, we want to open this project up to the market place. Latest feasibility reports into the western Sydney rail network commissioned by Parramatta City Council predict the city's future to be challenged by transport constraints. Land use and feasibility studies forecast strong improvements in land values, as well as a $5 billion economic stimulus during construction. The proposed route for the light rail. Our study recommended the first priority be the Macquarie Park Line. This is a no brainier - it connects the biggest medical precinct in the southern hemisphere, two universities, a rapidly expanding business park and Parramatta, Sydney's second CBD," Mr Chedid said. Studies released to The Daily Telegraph yesterday found businesses would be attracted to western Sydney with light rail, and more offices and workers could add more than $3 billion in regional product within two decades. "The uplift in employment is expected to add over $3 billion to regional output by 2031, while constructing and fitting out additional office accommodation would contribute a further $2 billion and support around 1,000 jobs," the Western Sydney Light Rail Feasibility Study said It found a shortage of jobs in western Sydney forces nearly a quarter of Western Sydney's full time workers to spend more than 100 minutes per day commuting. Significant private and public transport constraints in and around Parramatta - an additional 300 to 500 peak hour buses would be required to service the 33,570 additional jobs forecast for Parramatta by 20315. It is clearly not feasible to accommodate the increase in travel demand with additional buses alone," it said. The report found there would be strong demand for jobs in the west - and the light rail could trigger growth in Parramatta's underutilitised land resources. The abundance of cost-effective commercial and industrial land in the study area could support the sustainable and long-term growth of Sydney's industries ... Yet many of these sites are underdeveloped.," it said. Transport planning in Sydney has remained largely mono-centric. However, there is an increasing number of customers who do not wish to travel to the city. Census data from 2011 shows 30 per cent of WSROC residents worked outside the region and 53 per cent of residents worked outside their local government area. "Analysis finds that this uplift in employment would lead to an increase Gross Regional Product (GRP) in 2031 by between $3.4 and $3.8 billion (in 2010-11 dollars)," it found. The creation / relocation of 22,584 jobs in the study area will also give rise to substantial infrastructure requirements to accommodate the personnel. The analysis found that that the expenditures on constructing and fitting out the additional floor space required would yield direct and flow on impacts of around $2 billion in value or support around 1,000 full time equivalent jobs in its construction. "Finally, the day-to-day expenditures of relocated personnel would yield direct and flow on impacts of around $31 million in value add or net economic activity (current dollars) each year and support around 21 FTE jobs each year," it said.