Sydney Metro Opening Date Could Be Delayed Due to Firefighter Ban – Sydney Auction Clearance Rate at 65%

Week’s Key Focus

The NSW Firefighters’ Union has imposed a ban on its members participating in safety drills for Sydney’s $21.6 billion metro rail line, casting a shadow over the planned opening date of August 4.

This indefinite ban covers all activities related to Sydney Metro, including evacuation drills for the new driverless trains and other necessary exercises before the line opens. The ban comes amid an escalating pay dispute between the Minns government and state firefighters, with hundreds rallying outside the NSW Parliament.

The latest action impacts the planned opening of the main underground section of the rail line (Chatswood to Sydenham) to passengers on August 4. In a memo, the Fire Brigade Employees Union stated that Sydney Metro has failed to provide permanent funding for firefighting resources equivalent to the specialist team for Sydney Trains’ underground rail network.

Union state secretary Leighton Drury expressed that there is an “unacceptable community risk” on the Sydney Metro lines if the capabilities of the current specialist rail, fire, and emergency units near Central Station are not extended to the new privately operated railways. He emphasized that this risk must be addressed before operations begin.

The ban includes all activities related to the Sydney Metro rail network, such as emergency drills and pre-incident plans. Sydney Metro stated in a release that it is still working towards the August 4 opening date, pending the operator’s successful completion of trial runs, system performance tests, and final regulatory approvals.

The statement noted that the final confirmation of the opening date would be announced in the coming weeks. Metro Trains Sydney, the private operator of the line, recently reached an agreement with Sydney Trains for its rail, fire, and emergency unit to provide support in the event of an incident in a metro tunnel, and this agreement is already in effect. However, the union is concerned that the contract is only for 12 months and does not guarantee permanent funding for critical firefighting capabilities.

Fire and Rescue NSW stated that it provided expert advice during the initial consultation process, leading the metro line operator to reach an agreement with Sydney Trains’ specialist rail and fire unit for emergency support. The government and Sydney Metro will continue working with the national regulator on certifying the new metro line.

The firefighters’ union, which has 6000 members, is at an impasse with the government over a new pay deal, as the previous agreement expired in February. The government’s offer of a 10.5% wage increase over three years falls short of the union’s demand for a 20% increase over the same period. The indefinite ban on Sydney Metro activities means that more than a dozen firefighters are expected to miss a major exercise involving a train evacuation at the new Martin Place station on Friday. Another drill to test train evacuation in case of a fire is scheduled for next Friday.

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Auction Results Last Week

Sydney: 581 properties were auctioned, with results reported for 351; 229 were sold. The clearance rate was 65%, with total auction value of AUD 241,321,999 and a median house price of AUD 1,390,000
Melbourne: 612 properties went to auction, with results reported for 417; 277 were sold. The clearance rate was 66%, with total auction value of AUD 202,887,026 and a median house price of AUD 870,000