Outrage as Parramatta Road motorway plans progress

Greens MPs have spoken out against plans for a Parramatta Rd motorway, outlined in Infrastructure NSW’s 20-year plan released this month.

The report identifies plans for a $10 billion ‘WestConnex’ motorway as the highest priority project to be completed in the next ten years.

Greens Member for Balmain, Jamie Parker, and Greens transport spokesperson, Cate Faehrmann, believe Infrastructure NSW’s priorities for transport will compound congestion and pollution on Inner West motorways.

“The Inner West will be hit hard as a result of this short-sightedness, with the M4 East and M5 duplication to bring more cars to already congested corridors, including Parramatta Rd, Victoria Rd and the Anzac Bridge,” Mr Parker said. “The only longterm solution to Sydney’s congestion is a genuine commitment to public transport, including a strategy to expand the existing light rail network.

“The Inner West already suffers the traffic impacts of decades of disproportionate investment in car-dependent projects and under investment in public transport, forcing commuters into cars and onto motorways.”

The Infrastructure NSW report outlines the 33km project “includes an extension of the M4 to Sydney Airport and duplication of the M5 East to transform Sydney’s traffic congestion, and support more efficient freight movements.”

Ms Faehrmann bemoaned the lack of community involvement in the transport overhaul.

“[The] report is an uninspiring rubber stamp to business as usual,” Ms Faehrmann said. “Without any community representation on the board, we’ve ended up with just another powerful roads lobby group.

“An absolutely critical project to get Sydney moving again is the second Harbour Rail Crossing. It would boost the capacity of the rail lines that serve the Inner West, but it’s being delayed in favour of these motorways that everyone knows will do absolutely nothing to relieve congestion in the medium to long-term.”

Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne has not made any commitment as yet to fight against the WestConnex motorway.

“I am not rushing to judgement but I have to say at the moment the plan for Parramatta Rd raises more questions than it answers,” Mr Byrne said. “Taking cars off Parramatta Rd is important, but where is the plan for how then to revitalise this wasteland as a vibrant boulevard? Economic renewal of this strip will require more than just a tunnel from Ashfield to Camperdown.”

At this stage the Head of Infrastructure NSW has not released how many homes and businesses would be affected by the proposal. Mr Byrne promises to fight attempts at wholesale demolition of heritage buildings and homes in Leichhardt and Annandale.

“Inner West residents have a right to know exactly what will be done to revitalise Parramatta Rd,” he said.