The Sydenham to Bankstown Metro (Metro Southwest) is the third stage of the Sydney Metro. It is a NSW Government-led initiative to convert the 13.5km T3 Bankstown Line to metro standards. The first stage, Cudgegong Rd to Chatswood (Metro Northwest) has been recently completed and is in operation since 26 May 2019. The second stage, Chatswood to Sydenham (Metro City), is currently underway.

Since 2017, CBCity has advocated for a better outcome for the Metro Southwest project. In August 2017, CBCity hosted an MP Summit and prepared a flyover advocating for the undergrounding of Bankstown Station. In December 2017, Council made a detailed submission to the Department of Planning and Environment in response to the Environmental Impact Statement for the Metro Southwest. The submission had 3 parts:

Part 1: Sydenham to Bankstown Metro: Key issues and opportunities  

Part 2: Creating Better Places: Opportunities for our Metro centres

Part 3: Technical Review

Subsequently in July 2018, Council made a submission to the Department of Planning and Environment in response to the Preferred Infrastructure Report for the project. The submissions set out why Council could not support the Metro Southwest concept in its proposed form. Council's submission stated that the community deserves transport infrastructure that enhances liveability, amenity and economic prosperity. The proposed concept entrenches inequitable investment in infrastructure for the City of Canterbury Bankstown and dismisses the aspirations for the strategic centres at Bankstown and Campsie.

However, on 19 December 2018, Sydney Metro received planning approval to build the Metro Southwest, which is due for completion in 2024.

Council is meeting regularly with Sydney Metro to negotiate improving outcomes for the Metro upgrades between Hurlstone Park and Punchbowl. Council is currently awaiting announcements from Sydney Metro regarding the future of Bankstown Station.

Sydney Metro has expressed to Council that design works for the rail corridor and stations will be the main focus for 2019. Early investigation works commenced in February 2019.

The Metro Southwest project has a customer service hotline. The contact details can be found at the following link:  

https://www.sydneymetro.info/get-touch

For further information on the progress of Metro Southwest, please refer to the following Sydney Metro websites:

https://www.sydneymetro.info/citysouthwest/project-overview

https://www.sydneymetro.info/news-article-category/city-southwest

A list of notifications sent to Council from Sydney Metro can be found here