High Speed Rail is on the move again in Australia, with the High Speed Rail Authority racing towards the halfway mark on its first business case. The Sydney High Speed Rail Mini-Conference provides a short course in how things are stacking up and where they are likely to be heading. Join HSR industry experts, enthusiastic supporters and perennial sceptics in a late afternoon update on what could become Australia's most transformative public infrastructure investment.
International rail expert and friend of Australia, Prof Andrew McNaughton, headlines the Conference as keynote speaker. Prof McNaughton served as Chairperson of the NSW Government’s Fastrail Program from 2018 to 2020. In that role, McNaughton investigated upgrading rail links from Sydney to Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra and Orange. The final Fastrail report on these proposals was shelved by then-Premier Dominic Perrottet and has never been made public. What can he tell us about that?
Newly minted Executive General Manager of the High Speed Rail Authority, Steven Joseph, will provide an update on the Sydney to Newcastle HSR Business Case and Pathway to Delivery Report. Prof Garry Glazebrook will share his recent report, Integrating Our Mega-Region, which explains how to maximise and accelerate HSR's impact on NSW cities and regions. Former MP John Alexander, who led federal government inquiries into high speed rail, regional development and housing during his ten year parliamentary career, will provide a top-down perspective on how to get and keep HSR on track in Australia.
A Panel Discussion and networking session with speakers and guests over drinks and canapes will round out the Conference.
