WestConnex traffic changes put locals in permanent lock down

Tuesday 5 May 2020

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has today condemned the State Government’s radical new road network changes planned for Haberfield, Ashfield and Leichhardt, which will make it all but impossible for local residents to get into and out of their own suburbs or across the City West Link.

Mayor Byrne said these changes, which close off multiple main roads, are all about serving traffic flow for the costly WestConnex project at the expense of safety and efficiency on our local roads.

“The proposed changes are ridiculous and, in some cases, reckless,” he said. “They will create massive, new rat runs and make life impossible for local residents.”

“If these changes go ahead, the State Government is essentially going to lock down Haberfield permanently - you won’t be able to get into Haberfield from Parramatta Road and you won’t be able to get out via Waratah Street. Businesses are rightly concerned this could be the death of Haberfield shopping centre.

“And people in Leichhardt, Lilyfield and Rozelle will find it nearly impossible to access or even cross City West Link between James and Norton Streets. It will be terrible for local businesses and residents, and downright dangerous for drivers. We oppose these changes totally,” said Mayor Byrne.

“Today, I have written to the Premier and the Transport Minister calling on the Government to cancel these plans.

“We also asked them to take another look at the independent study commissioned by Council – the WestConnex Local Area Improvement Strategy - which proposed a systematic series of traffic calming measures that would protect residential streets from rat running due to WestConnex.

“The total cost to the State Government to implement these traffic calming changes is $30m, a drop in the ocean when compared to WestConnex’s $20 billion price tag.

“Talking to the State Government about their road projects - which have disproportionately disadvantaged Inner West residents time and again - is like talking to a brick wall.

“Residents deserve better treatment from a Government that seems hell-bent on destroying their suburbs,” he said.
Inner West Council has resolved unanimously to oppose the changes with Labor, Liberal, Greens and independent Councillors united in their opposition.

Transport for NSW intends to:

• Block entry to the City West Link by removing right turn from Norton Street in Leichhardt.
  
• Block entry to Lilyfield by removing right turn from Norton Street onto Lilyfield Road.
  
• Block entry to Haberfield from Parramatta Road via Dalhousie Street.
  
• Make James St at Leichhardt one way and removing access from Mary Street to James Street, so that crossing the City West Link will be virtually impossible for Lilyfield and
• Rozelle residents.
  
• Remove traffic lights and all right turns at Waratah Street.
  
• Remove the right turn from Timbrell Drive onto City West Link.
  

Council is urging all affected residents to make submissions during the community consultation period, which closes on Sunday 24 May 2020. You can do this by:

⦁ Visiting the interactive portal and following the instructions online
⦁ Emailing ni@rms.nsw.gov.au
⦁ Writing to Network Integration Communications, Transport for NSW, Locked Bag 928, North Sydney 2060

For media enquiries, contact Bill Hawker, 9392 5685 or bill.hawker@innerwest.nsw.gov.au