Council Pushes Landscape Changes for WestConnex

Council is continuing to push the State Government to make sure open spaces surrounding the WestConnex M4 East better respect the local area and the needs of the local inner west community.

Administrator Richard Pearson said Council recently advocated in a written submission on the draft M4 East Urban Design & Landscape Plan for improvements to the plan.

“In our submission, we’ve urged the State Government to make sure the open space was activated, attractive and useful to our community,” he said.

“This includes the creation of new areas of community open space, a better walking and cycling network and traffic calming of local streets in the vicinity of the project.

“It is critical any excess land not be sold off for development. It should be devoted to open space or other uses that benefit our community.”

Mr Pearson said a new Council WestConnex team is working to ensure the project creates better local outcomes for inner west residents at every opportunity.

“Over recent months, Council has established a dedicated WestConnex team to work with the community and the motorway authority to address construction issues,” he said.

“At this stage, those impacts are being felt in the Haberfield as well as the St Peters and Tempe area but will affect more of our community as work progresses,” he said.

A timetable of upcoming work includes:
• Stage 1: M4 East – mainly affects parts of Haberfield and St Peters/ Tempe - approved and under construction, with consultations underway for various works, actions and detailed designs;
• Stage 2: New M5 – mainly affects parts of St Peters and Alexandria - approved, with construction activity commencing and consultations underway for various works, actions and detailed designs;
• Stage 3: M4-M5 Link – mainly affects parts of Rozelle and Leichhardt – at preliminary planning stage, with Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) expected in 2017 – exploratory drilling underway in various suburbs.

To improve communication on WestConnex issues, Council facilitates monthly meetings of a local WestConnex Community Liaison Forum.

The Council WestConnex team is in constant communication with affected residents, WestConnex project teams and the Department of Planning & Environment’s WestConnex compliance officer.

Updates on Council’s activities in relation to the project are available on Council’s WestConnex webpage at www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/westconnex.

The Sydney Motorway Corporation WestConnex website www.westconnex.com.au/sydney-motorway-corporation includes all relevant reports, weblinks and updates on forthcoming road closures, earthworks and other construction activities.

Council Pushes Landscape Changes for WestConnex

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