FED: Business welcomes airport decision, laments Speedrail loss

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2000
FED: Business welcomes airport decision, laments Speedrail loss

Business groups have welcomed the federal government's decision to stick with Sydney
Airport but have lamented the scrapping of the Canberra-to-Sydney Speedrail project.

Federal transport minister JOHN ANDERSON says federal cabinet has decided not to go
ahead with a second airport at Badgerys Creek and has ditched an option of an airport
on the Kurnell Peninsula.

Cabinet has scrapped the Speedrail project in favour of investigating a high-speed
east coast rail link.

Canberra Airport executive director TERRY SNOW says the scrapping is a big loss for
the national capital as the train would've been terrific for the Canberra economy.

Speedrail consortium members Leighton Holdings and French transport giant Alstom say
they're extremely disappointed with the decision.

They say they had invested heavily in the proposed link during the past four years
and the decision not to proceed is a huge setback for the nation, particularly regional
Australia.

However, the New South Wales business community has welcomed the government's decision
on Sydney Airport as good news for business.

NSW Chamber of Commerce chief executive KATIE LAHEY says the decision makes good business sense.

AAP RTV jn

KEYWORD: AIRPORT WRAP (SYDNEY)

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