WestConnex heats up on inner western front as councils sacked

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS

Following an announcement last Thursday local democracy had been suspended at a number of councils across the state, there is a growing swell of anger at the state government.

Three inner west councils, all of which oppose the WestConnex project, were put into administration.

Former Greens Councillor and Mayor of Leichhardt Council, Rochelle Porteous,  who has been campaigning against WestConnex for several years was one of the councillors across the state who was sacked by the Baird Government last Thursday.

Richard Pearson, former Department of Infrastructure staffer responsible for approving previous stages of the WestConnex project, is administrator of the three inner west councils in administration.

Ms Porteous told City Hub that the sacking of the councils was a “great blow” because of their capacity to stand up for their local communities. “I expect under the administrator, it is most unlikely that we are going to see the scrutiny and commitment from the council, to do the research and produce the necessary documentation.

“Ashfield, Marrickville and Leichhardt were in opposition to the WestConnex project and  were doing research and reports on traffic modelling, on issues around pollution, and generally the many reasons this project should not be going ahead,” she said.

“It is a real concern, without that advocacy from the councils, because there is no community group that has the capacity and resources that a council has.”

Ms Porteous said last Sunday that the community had the power to stop of the project. She was speaking as residents occupied a block of flats slated for demolition as part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex tollway project at 27 Wattle Street, Haberfield.

“We can stop this, if we stop the funding. We have the federal election. And most of that money is coming from the federal and the state [government] there is no money coming from private investors. We need to stop the funding now. We need a commitment from each politician who is standing for election that they will no longer fund the WestConnex project,” Ms Porteous said.

Bill Holliday from Lilyfield was dragged out by police and put into a paddy wagon, as a group of campaigners chanted “no WestConnex”.

The block of flats is one of the few in the area, meaning residents that have been evicted by the RMS have been unable to find accommodate in their suburb.

In total, 123 dwellings will be demolished in Haberfield, of which six so far have been destroyed.

“Much-loved family homes and small businesses are being smashed for this toll road, which will see Western Sydney drivers pay tolls of up to $11 each way to end up in traffic jams,” said WestConnex Action Group spokesperson Cynthia Moore.

She said there were serious concerns over the project, including the fact that the M4 East’s major contractors, Samsung and Leighton had been named as having a role in global corruption scandals through their international subsidiaries.

“And yesterday the entire WestCONnex was labelled ‘at risk’ because Leighton’s failed to pay its suppliers on the project,” Ms Moore said.  She was referring to reports in The Australian newspaper last Saturday which said Leightons had not paid its contractors, a fact which was denied by the company.

“But despite these huge issues, the Baird Government continues to ignore residents and experts who try to engage with it. It’s subverted democratic planning processes every step of the way. And now it’s sacked councils to help bulldoze this taxpayer-funded toll road through,” Ms Moore said.

In a Mayoral Minute on Monday, City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that she had written to the Prime Minister and Federal Opposition Leader expressing serious doubts over the project. She called on Bill Shorten MP to formally commit to an “urgent, independent assessment of WestConnex and to withdraw all Federal funding for this project,” should the Labor party win government.

“WestConnex is the very opposite of what Governments should be doing in the 21st Century. The infrastructure projects approved now will seriously affect how we will be able to address dangerous climate change and meet our future transport needs. Coming generations will ask: “How did they let this happen?”” the Lord Mayor said in the minute.