Packing up an ‘option’ for Union Square residents

Pyrmont locals say extended delays caused by the construction of the CBD Metro may force them to leave their inner-city homes.

Mark Metcalf, who lives on the corner of Union and Pyrmont Street, said he may have to consider moving from the area after 12 years of living there. “It’s going to have a devastating effect because the village area is going to be gone completely, and I possibly would consider moving,” he said.

According to Mr Metcalf, residents in the area are worried the delays caused by the construction of the metro may push the value of their properties down. “Any of the businesses that are left in the square will die because there will be no foot traffic allowed in the eastern side.”

Salvador Klein has lived on Paternoster Row for three years and shared Mr Metcalf’s concerns. “As a resident, I’m going be getting a metro station right in front of my house, which is convenient for someone who wants to use the metro, but during those five years of construction my road is going to be blocked off,” Mr Klein said.

He will also consider moving if the construction goes ahead. “Basically, this is going to be very disruptive to living, and if this goes ahead I think I’ll be forced to move and that will be at my own expense,” he said.

“Everybody that lives in this vicinity is pretty concerned and is very much against what is going on.”

Jean Stuart, co-convener of Pyrmont Action, said City of Sydney Council and the State Government had left a lot of questions unanswered for local residents. “That part of Union Street is the main thoroughfare for workers – 26,000 of whom arrive in Pyrmont every day to go about their daily business. Some of them walk through Union Square – how are they going to feel if most of it is disrupted by construction?

“Where are the new works Council has done to beautify the square and make it easier for pedestrian access? Where is the cycle way going to go if part of Union Street is absorbed into the construction zone?”

A lack of proper analysis of the site and documentation from the government had left locals wondering just how long construction of the metro would take, Ms Stuart said.

“We have been told by them (the State Government) that it will be between four and five years. Therefore, is Paternoster Row going to be closed off on the Union Street end for four or five years, or are we going to lose half of Union Street for four or five years? We don’t really know because we haven’t been told,” she said.

“I would have thought Council would have been very concerned about that. But we haven’t heard from them at all on that issue.”