More than 100 residents of Sydney's inner western suburbs attended a public meeting at Leichhardt Town Hall on October 10 to oppose the NSW Liberal government's plan to build the WestConnex toll road.
The road would link the M4 motorway to Sydney Airport. The $10-15 billion project would involve a 33-kilometre toll road to extend the M4 from Strathfield to Mascot Airport and Port Botany, and duplicate the M5 East and M6 tollways.
Gavin Gatenby, from Ecotransit Sydney, told the audience the plan meant "the collisions of two versions of reality: that big business and developers will take precedence over residents and small business, involving the forced resumption of homes to build roads, and no problem with global warming, in contrast to our version: that global warming is a major problem, and that public transport and rail should be prioritised over vehicle transport and new roads."
The NoWESTConnex campaign says: "Private car travel is actually decreasing. The state government needs to urgently invest limited public funds to meet the expected 30% rise in demand for public transport.
"WestConnex would mean: More than 10 years of massive disruption and traffic chaos; Compulsory land and house acquisitions, and 'rat-runs' in suburbs; Destruction of regionally significant Wolli Valley bushland; Increased reliance on cars (toll road operators encourage cars); Health impacts from smoke stacks, diesel and truck traffic; A car-dominated city when the rest of the world is moving to light rail and other vehicle public transport; and, Major state debt, asset sell-offs and overdevelopment.
"Alternatives: Integrated light rail network from inner west and Maroubra into and through the city; Build second Harbour rail crossing to maintain entire rail network; Equalise all fares on Airport rail line and add two stops; and, Reduce truck traffic, move more containers by rail, not roads."
[For more information on the campaign against WestConnex, visit westconnex.info.]