By Jim Green
WOLLONGONG — In the latest episode in a dispute over management of stormwater from the Illawarra escarpment north of here, NSW transport minister Brian Langton has allegedly threatened to close the south coast railway line because of "safety" concerns. Langton's office staff have since said that the railway line will not be closed, but refused to deny that the threat was made in a meeting between Langton and the South Coast Labour Council.
Threats by City Rail to sue the Labour Council and northern suburbs residents picketing a controversial tunnel development have added to the tension.
In recent decades, waterways in the area have been re-routed to accommodate the railway line and mining operations. Several creeks were diverted into one stream in the 1950s to provide water for a now abandoned mine. The upshot has been increasing problems with erosion and flooding, which threaten the railway line and residents.
The solution favoured by City Rail, Langton and his ALP mates, and some Wollongong City councillors, involves the construction of a three metre by three metre tunnel, which would run 750 metres, from above the railway line to the Scarborough Headland. Inside the headland, which would have to be cut back 16.5 metres, the tunnel is to widen into an energy dissipation chamber 10 metres by four. The project would cost over $7 million.
The majority of local residents are opposed to the tunnel and have maintained a picket line 24 hours a day for almost a year. The picket only prevents tunnel construction work and in no way compromises normal rail maintenance. The picket is backed up by a ban on the development imposed by the South Coast Labour Council.
Residents say there is a danger of blockage of the tunnel inlet portals due to landslip during a storm. The effect of the dissipation chamber in the Scarborough Headland, and the turbulence of stormwater running through the chamber, raise safety concerns, particularly since landslip is a constant problem in the area. Construction of the tunnel would adversely impact on the fragile beach and sea environments, and the tunnel outlet would be an unsightly blot on Scarborough beach.
The residents are promoting a safer, cheaper, more environmentally attractive option. This would treat the problem at its source — keeping water flows separate and as small and as slow as possible.
Creeks running to the mine would be returned to their original paths as far as possible. Three parallel flow paths would run through the town of Scarborough to the ocean. The disturbed ecosystem would be protected and improved using methods of natural water detention and by recontouring and revegetating the mine site and the creeks. This option would make good use of local knowledge, would provide local employment and would be several times cheaper than the tunnel.
The ALP member for Bulli, Ian McManus, has been unwilling to listen to the concerns of residents and has pushed for the tunnel to be built. Nor have the alleged threats from Langton endeared the ALP to local residents. The Fahey Liberal government was just as obstinate. An indication of the anti-Labor, anti-Liberal sentiment in the area is that the Greens polled 24% and 33% at the last state election in the polling booths at Scarborough and Wombarra.
A delegation is scheduled to meet with Premier Bob Carr on April 1. The picket and the ban remain in place. Campaigners have prepared a leaflet for distribution on south coast trains to give commuters a better understanding of the issue than can be gleaned from the conservative press.
Volunteers for picket duty are always welcome, and any financial support would be greatly appreciated. For more information or to lend assistance, contact Jolyon Sykes from Wombarra Preservation, PO Box 5, Thirroul NSW 2515, phone (042) 681 434; or phone Scarborough Action for the Environment on (042) 673 524.