Residents in Sydney are showing strong support for an Australian advocacy group that is urging authorities to “finish the job” by extending a popular light rail line into a densely populated area. This initiative aims to better serve beachgoers, local residents, university students, and families who rely on public transport in the city’s eastern suburbs.
Business Sydney, a think tank focused on urban development, argues that the L3 Kingsford Line, which currently runs through the city’s eastern suburbs, could be extended to accommodate new housing developments on small blocks of land up to 6-8 stories high. This would help ease pressure on the city’s housing market and provide more living spaces across the Harbour City.
Paul Nicolaou, the executive director of Business Sydney, spoke with Yahoo News about the potential of extending the light rail line from Kingsford to La Perouse. He emphasized that this 8.5 km addition would unlock up to 50,000 new homes, creating opportunities for growth along the south-east corridor.
“This isn’t just a transport project, it’s about building vibrant, connected communities right along the south-east corridor,” he said. “Completing this missing link is a practical, ready-to-go solution that builds on the success of Sydney’s existing light rail network.”
Currently, the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines run through the eastern part of Sydney. The L3 line, which was opened in 2019, starts at Circular Quay, passes through the CBD, and splits at Moore Park. There have been discussions about extending the line via Maroubra towards La Perouse.
The area is known for its dense population and heavy bus demand, particularly around universities and beaches. Nicolaou highlighted that the corridor is already in place, and communities are ready for growth. He stressed that now is the time for investment, as the infrastructure pipeline is becoming thinner.
“Sydney cannot afford to hit pause or fall into infrastructure fatigue,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of city-shaping investment needed to keep momentum, support jobs, and deliver the homes Sydney urgently needs.”
Nicolaou added that the extension would be a game-changer for several areas, including Maroubra, Matraville, Malabar, Chifley, Little Bay, and Phillip Bay. Business Sydney is set to release a report titled “Completing the La Perouse Light Rail Link,” which outlines why an additional 16,000 homes could be built, potentially leading to the closure of the Long Bay jail.
The report states that a commute from Long Bay to Central would take about 30 minutes with the light rail service, carrying approximately 450 passengers compared to 80 on a bus. Minister for Transport John Graham acknowledged that NSW welcomes all ideas to increase housing in Sydney.
“Turning the jail into housing has been floated more than once, including by Mark Speakman (former opposition leader), who couldn’t explain where 1200 prisoners would be moved to in NSW or how to pay for the rail connection that would be needed,” he said.
La Perouse resident Oscar Morgan told the Daily Telegraph that a light rail option would address the current “insufficient” public transport in the area. He noted that there are only two bus routes in and out of La Perouse, making commutes to the city over an hour long.
“Extending the light rail a few kilometres just makes sense; it would make the area less isolated and therefore more desirable to live in,” he said. The last time a tram ran from the CBD to La Perouse was in 1961.
Light rail services have seen a boom in Sydney’s west, with the first stage of the L4 light rail in Parramatta opening on December 20, 2024. This stage features 16 stops from Westmead to Parramatta and Carlingford. Construction will begin in early 2027 on a new stage, offering a 10-kilometre track linking Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park, Wentworth Point, and Olympic Park, with 14 light rail stops.
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