Central community anxious about light rail

Amidst concern over traffic and building demolitions due to the impending light rail line through central Sydney, community stakeholders have called for further consultations with the State Government.

The move follows uncertainty about the residential impact of light rail development in the area.

In December, the State Government announced a light rail route along George St and from Central Station to Randwick. The line cuts directly through Surry Hills and may cause traffic obstruction through Elizabeth, Crown, South Darling and Bourke Streets, Anzac Parade and Olivia Lane.

Despite giving her overall backing for the development of light rail in Sydney, City of Sydney Labor Councillor Linda Scott spoke at a public meeting last Sunday and expressed disquiet about the potential impact of light rail on local homes.

“It’s my understanding that the government will approach people to voluntarily sell their properties and if they don’t do that they will compulsorily acquire them,” Ms Scott said.

“It is clearly inappropriate that the people of Surry Hills find out that their houses will go through reading it in the newspaper. At no stage has the Transport Minister [Gladys Berejiklian] consulted the community yet, this is also clearly unacceptable.”

Ms Scott also raised concerns over the need for an improved consultation process over light rail.

“The minister needs to urgently consult people whose houses are on the route of the Surry Hills light rail. The minister and premier need to come to Surry Hills and discuss this with the community,” she said.

“I am really supportive of investment in public transport. I spoke before Council in favour of light rail; I am strongly in support of more sustainable transport like light rail.”

The government may need to buy properties in the area to clear way for development of light rail and local residents have already raised concerns with safety and congestion that may arise from light rail constructions.

Community group People Unite Surry Hills (PUSH) formed as a result for the perceived need for greater consultation on light rail.

PUSH representative Venietta Slama-Powell said the group was concerned about the potential affect on Surry Hills residents, including evicting people from their homes.

“We believe the government must consult with the community with regards to the various route options including light rail stops. Our aim is to gather information, be consulted and work together with the community,” she said.

The issue of potential safety hazards also promises to cause community consternation in Surry Hills. Constructions around Devonshire St housing may produce hazards for less mobile people such as the disabled, elderly and intoxicated.

“PUSH would like for any residents who are inconvenienced in any way to be compensated accordingly,” Ms Slama-Powell said.

High-profile community leaders have also raised questions about light rail through central Sydney and Surry Hills. Former NSW Premier and Chairman of Infrastructure NSW Nick Greiner furthered his skepticism of light rail through central at a recent Sydney University presentation.

But Convener of EcoTransit, Gavin Gatenby said Mr Greiner was a serial pessimist when it came to public transport.

“I think Greiner is completely wrong and he has a demonstrated absolute bias against any form of public transport other than buses,” he said.

“Nick Greiner is famously a tollway booster. The problem Nick Greiner has is that all the tollways that he fostered were predicated on the assumption that we would have continuously rising traffic. For the last nine years that hasn’t happened.”

Mr Gatenby was actively involved in campaigning for the development of light rail on George St.

“This is going to be much easier to live with than buses, it’s going to be much quieter than buses, it’s going to be non-polluting and it’s going to take cars off the road. I think people are fretting completely unnecessarily,” he said.