The council's general manager, Paul Tosi, said the council was unsure how the area's roads and public transport would cope with the projected growth.

``Without the South West Rail Link, the circumstances relating to the development would change dramatically, as more pressure would be placed on the seven railway stations in the Campbelltown local government area,'' he said.

``The east-west connections of Narellan Road, Badgally Road, Raby Road and Denham Court Road would become main priorities and the viability of the overall growth centre's development may be threatened.

``The rail link is very important to Campbelltown. If it didn't go ahead, the existing road and rail links would come under far more pressure and I do not want our ratepayers paying the price for a lack of much-needed infrastructure.''

Tenders for the design and construction contractor for Edmondson Park and Leppington stations on the South West Rail Link will close at the end of this month.

And tenders for the preliminary geotechnical investigation and assessment of site contamination were due in mid-September, showing all hope may not be lost for the South West Rail Link.

The link is a proposed $1.36billion 13-kilometre twin track from from Glenfield to Leppington via Edmondson Park.

It includes two new stations at Edmondson Park and Leppington, an upgrade to Glenfield station and a new train stabling facility west of Leppington.

Macquarie Fields MP Andrew McDonald confirmed the rail project was under review by Treasury officials ahead of the November mini-budget.

He said all major infrastructure projects were under review. ``I think everybody in the Government realises that it's vital to the growth of the South West Growth Centre,'' he said. ``You can't have one without the other.''

In March, after an inspection to the site, then premier Morris Iemma said the project would give south-west Sydney residents a modern, reliable, fast and efficient rail service.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon called on Premier Nathan Rees to publicly back the rail link. ``If the Premier abandons or even defers the South-West Rail Link he'll be demonstrating his inexperience and lack of ability to stand up to Treasury,'' she said.

``If the South West and the North West rail links don't go ahead, the NSW Government will have abandoned 10 years of planning in western Sydney for 400,000 people.''

Mr Rees said he would not rule any projects in or out.