More commuter parking coming to Sydney's Northwest Metro
THE NSW Government is investing $160M to add up to 1,200 new commuter parking spaces at Tallawong and Hills Showground Metro stations, addressing chronic overcrowding that has left both car parks full most mornings before 8am.
The bulk of the funding will go toward a new multi-storey car park at Tallawong, adding up to 1,100 spaces.
The suburb is expected to see rapid growth, with more than 50,000 homes planned for the North-West Growth Area over the next 20 years.
Hills Showground station will also get an extra storey added to its existing car park, delivering up to 100 additional spaces. Both upgrades will be folded into Transport's Park&Ride system, which offers commuters 18 hours of free parking daily when using public transport.
The government says the expansion reflects years of underinvestment in transport infrastructure as Sydney's northwest experienced sustained population growth without matching parking capacity to serve the M1 metro line.
Premier Chris Minns said parking at both stations was "at a premium every day," with commuters often left with no choice but to circle for a spot. He said the shortfall stemmed from a failure to build enough car parks to meet growing demand on the northwest metro line.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said commuters deserved better than starting their mornings hunting for parking, calling the investment part of the government's broader commitment to the region's infrastructure needs.
Transport Minister John Graham said the M1 metro had transformed travel for northwest residents who previously had limited public transport options, and described the new spaces as one part of a wider review of improvements planned for metro users.
Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said the parking shortage was a message he heard constantly from constituents.
"The most common feedback is about the lack of parking at these stations," he said, adding that the government was more than doubling capacity to give commuters a better chance of finding a spot.
Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland welcomed the announcement, saying local Labor representatives were responding directly to community concerns.
"We've heard the community's calls for more parking at Tallawong Metro," she said, noting the new car park would more than double available spaces for local families.
She said that cutting the time commuters spend searching for parking would help get people to their destinations sooner.
The government has framed the parking expansion as one piece of a broader transport strategy for the region, alongside improvements to bus services, active transport options and metro capacity, as it works to keep pace with continued growth across northwest Sydney.
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