Council denies WestConnex

Marrickville Council voted on Tuesday night to refuse the state government access to local roads as part of its WestConnex project.

The council voted to deny a request for sub-contractors to access local roads and to install underground electricity mains for the proposed St Peters interchange.The decision to officially refuse access means that the state government must decide if it is to ignore the council’s jurisdiction and continue with the project, or respect its decision.

The motion, moved by Greens Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore, means that the council will refuse to grant a Road Operating Permit for the installation of underground electrictrity mains to service the WestConnex interchange at St Peters.

In its decision, the council noted that there was no planning approval for WestConnex New M5 second stage, and that the council was opposed to the WestConnex project.

Councillor Ellesmore said that the refusal sent a strong message to the state government regarding the toll road project.

Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong said that the decision showed solidarity with the community and the protestors who have been blockading the construction in the local government area.

“Residents and community groups made over 12,000 submissions about this aspect of the WestConnex which almost universally condemn this project. Many call for the St Peters component of the works to be completely reshaped.

“The only reason contractors would be applying to dig up streets and lay cables before any formal planning approval has been granted is if the Baird Liberal Government has no intention of genuinely considering the submissions from the community about this stage of the project,” she said.