Surry Hills activists denied light rail info

Transport for NSW has denied a ‘freedom of information’ request for documentation pertaining to the route of the planned CBD and South-East Light Rail project.

The People Unite Surry Hills (PUSH) group requested briefing notes, reports, feasibility studies, environmental assessments and other documents relating to the new light rail line, which looks set to tear through the heart of Surry Hills, necessitating the destruction of Wimbo Park and the Olivia Gardens apartment block.

But Transport for NSW has denied the request, which was made under the Government Information (Public Access) Act (AKA the GIPA Act) which has replaced the Freedom of Information Act.

PUSH spokesperson Venietta Slama-Powell said this was the second time Transport for NSW had denied their GIPA request.

“We were greatly surprised by the first letter received from Transport for NSW, in response to our initial GIPA request, asking us to explain why our request was of public interest,” said Ms Slama-Powell.

“We wrote back with our reasons and have now received a reply denying us the information on different grounds. This time, they’re saying our application constitutes ‘substantial and unreasonable diversion of Transport for NSW’s resources’.”

Transport for NSW claimed it would take approximately 470.5 hours to respond to PUSH’s request for information, and suggested they “narrow the scope” of their GIPA application.

“We’re considering doing that, but we feel that our request for information does not constitute an unreasonable diversion of Transport for NSW resources,” said Ms Slama-Powell.

“In 2011, a professional services company was appointed to undertake engineering, light rail systems and urban design for the Sydney Light Rail Strategic Plan … for a fee of $10 million. We had tailored most of our GIPA request in line with this research.”

But NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian told City News GIPA requests concerning the project were not a matter for her.

“As is appropriate, GIPA requests to Transport for NSW are a matter for Transport for NSW,” said Ms Berejiklian.

“The government has released detailed information about our light rail project in [the] Sydney’s Light Rail Future [document], at the communtiy forum in Surry Hills and at other community meetings and events held since.”

Transport for NSW’s refusal to provide the information to PUSH comes as new reports indicate that a ‘cut and cover’ tunnel for the project may be back on the agenda.

Fairfax newspapers last week reported that Transport for NSW said in an email to Action for Public Transport that a ‘cut and cover’ tunnel has been recommended for the route as it passes through Moore Park.

A tunnel had previously been considered for neighbouring Surry Hills, but Ms Berejiklian told a community meeting in April that such a tunnel would be too expensive.