Community honks for traffic review

Concerned residents at a forum last Monday discussed the future of the North Eveleigh area which has been approved for mixed-use redevelopment.

Around 80 people convened at Carriageworks to raise concerns about the inner city precinct which is over 10 hectares in size and borders Redfern, Waterloo and Newtown.

The Concept Plan was approved four years ago and allows for the redevelopment of the site to include commercial, office, retail, cultural, community and residential uses.

The Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) has received approval for $7.19 million in infrastructure funding through the Commonwealth Government’s Housing Affordability Fund to pay for the construction of affordable housing as well as sewer, water, stormwater and roads to service North Eveleigh.

Local resident, architect and planner Bruce Lay told City News that only a third of the money will be used for affordable housing and the rest will pay for road works that will benefit the Carriage Works complex and private housing.

“Another rort of a well-intended program”, he said.

Jason Perica and Kerrie Symonds from the SMDA answered questions about the traffic impact, the bike and pedestrian network, open space and heritage buildings.

Mr Lay said that no integrated traffic study has been made.

He understands the traffic study only calculated how many cars can fit on Wilson St but has not considered
the impact to the area nor the environmental aspects.

Geoffrey Turnbull from REDWatch said the traffic review has yet to be released despite the community group’s requests to the Department of Planning.

He urged stakeholders to submit their concerns and suggestions to the SMDA.

Participants at the meeting asked the authorities to defer the works until a comprehensive traffic study can be delivered.

The precinct is bound by Wilson St, Little Eveleigh St, Iverys Lane and the railway lines. The Carriage Works Performing Arts building and the Blacksmiths Shop are also part of it.

Community members also asked about the construction of the City Relief Line but the SMDA said the project belonged to NSW Transport.

The North Eveleigh redevelopment includes the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings; the demolition of non-heritage listed buildings; the provision of infrastructure and services and intersection upgrades to address increased traffic generation.

Mr Perica declined to be interviewed by City News.

By Florencia Melgar