No blueprint, but business as usual for Pyrmont Metro

Pyrmont residents awaiting news on compulsory acquisitions of their properties have been left disappointed, with the State Government continuing to press ahead with its plans to compulsorily acquire buildings on Union Street.

Locals lobbying to prevent the area becoming the site for the proposed Metro station had been cheered last month when Premier Kristina Keneally appeared to put the acquisition process on hold. “We are not pushing the ‘Go’ button on any compulsory acquisitions there, what we are doing is continuing discussions,” she said.

However, an update from the Transport Minister’s office confirmed that some Pyrmont properties had already been acquired, and “negotiations on the remaining few will continue”.

But Pyrmont community spokesperson Kilner Mason was unimpressed with the apparent reversal. “The issue is, why aren’t Metro delaying the acquisition process for three weeks until the transport blueprint is finalised?” he said. “To us it makes no sense to press ahead while the future of the project is still uncertain, and it is unfair to residents and businessowners if the Metro ends up being cancelled.”

Media leaks this week indicated the long-awaited transport blueprint, expected to be released by the end of the month, would confirm funding for the Western Metro, running from Pyrmont to Westmead via Central. Under this plan, the Rozelle leg of the Metro would be scrapped, reflecting the NSW Government’s decision to temporarily halt the acquisition of properties in the area until a final decision is made.