Western homeowners to help fund light rail

Western Sydney homeowners will be forced to stump up tens of thousands of extra dollars per abode because of plans to raise cash for light rail, the NSW opposition says.

The Baird government intends on putting down a levy of $200 per square metre of floor area from new residential developments in the light rail corridor, which includes linking Westmead to Strathfield.

Opposition leader Luke Foley says the levy is an unfair "tax".

"No one in the eastern suburbs is going to be required to pay an additional $20,000 per apartment for their light rail project," he said.

"Why is it that the people of western Sydney will be slugged a tax to have light rail?"

The construction of a network between Westmead, Strathfield and Carlingford will commence in 2019 with the government hopeful of completion by 2024.

The line will link the Parramatta CBD, Olympic Park, Westmead Hospital and Western Sydney University as part of a plan to encourage economic growth and job opportunities in the region.

The government has set aside $1 billion and will rely on the private sector, and federal and local government for contributions.

The $200 per square metre levy has been called a "special infrastructure contribution".

Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the actual figure to be raised was "yet to be worked out".

"It will depend on the final configuration of the precise (light rail) route," he said.

Mr Baird faced questions on Tuesday about doubling up on public transport services through the Parramatta to Strathfield area to the detriment of other suburbs that had no public transport.

"In modern cities, you need multiple options. We make no apologies," he said.

Mr Baird also announced the government would relocate more than 1800 education department jobs to Parramatta, with the move to begin in 2018.

Mr Foley said the government should have addressed the area's public transport needs sooner.

"It's sad that it took the loss of 8500 jobs from western Sydney with the Commonwealth Bank pulling out before the government would pay any attention to addressing the public transport deficit," Mr Foley said.