Metro rolls onward, but questions remain unanswered

With time running out to submit a response to the Environmental Assessment of the CBD Metro, the local community remains concerned about various aspects of the proposal – not least, say activists, the lack of environmental and economic impact statements for the site.

‘Save Union Square’ activist Jean Stuart voiced the group’s outstanding concerns after a meeting on Tuesday with Metro CEO Rod Staples. “Without adequate documentation, such as the geoseismic impact on the terraces, and without environmental and economic impact statements, how do we know what buildings will be affected, and how?” she said. “We need detailed drawings of the site. No-one knows what’s going to happen if the façade is damaged – will it be rebuilt? We haven’t received an answer to any of these questions from Rod Staples.”

The closing date for replies to the Metro’s Environmental Assessment is October 12, giving potential respondents just over a month to compile their responses to the 450-page document.

City of Sydney Council passed a motion Monday calling on Sydney Metro to extend the due date for responses to the Environmental Assessment to December. But Ms Stuart said Mr Staples had ruled out an extension.

The Authority’s current preferred option is to retain the facade and front portion of the four buildings previously earmarked for demolition. However, it remains unclear what steps, if any, have been taken to mitigate potential damage during demolition and construction work.

President of the Glebe Chamber of Commerce, Paul Angell, said the current proposals failed to make sense from a commercial point of view.

“Having a train stop is good for your area – but why not put it on a spot which will have a positive impact on the community?” he said. “Let the community help the government, versus just having a proposal handed down from on high.”

“Ultimately, a well-developed precinct is about people who live there. Traders are part of the atmosphere [and] economic development is an experience for locals. If you make an effort to inhibit that vitality, local people won’t like you, and they won’t vote for you.”

Ms Stuart said the government had neither documented nor costed alternatives adequately. “[City of Sydney Councillor] John McInerney said they were waiting for documents to be costed properly before making a decision. But even if we have a longer time to respond, we still need the answers to these questions,” she said.

“The government consider the Metro line to be more important than the communities it serves.”

The community has organised a ‘Save Union Square dance’ for Saturday, September 26, between 4pm and 7pm in the square.