Outer Sydney Orbital: Maraylya, Oakville resident stage walkout over M9 concerns, 30 per cent rate increase
RESIDENTS in Oakville and Maraylya have staged a walk out during a community meeting with Hawkesbury Council this week, following an uproar of concern over the Outer Sydney Orbital.
Hills Shire
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RESIDENTS in Oakville and Maraylya have staged a walk out during a community meeting with Hawkesbury Council this week, following an uproar of concern over the Outer Sydney Orbital.
The meeting, which was held at Maraylya Community Hall on Thursday night, saw council representatives ‘sidestep’ resident concerns over claims of an upcoming 30 per cent rate increase, as well as outrage over a lack of support against the Outer Sydney Orbital, according to representatives of the Oakville Progress Association.
Association members said residents of Maraylya and Oakville are calling for the realignment of council boundaries, moving the suburbs under the Hills Shire Council local government area due to a lack of representation by Hawkesbury Council.
● NSW GOVERNMENT BACKFLIP ON M9 PLANS
“Residents expressed their anger that council are forcing them to pay some of the highest
rates in the Hawkesbury, despite having voted overwhelmingly against the outrageous rates
increases during community consultation in 2017,” Progress Association representative Rebecca Baldwin told the Times.
“Many residents are retired and living on the pension and don’t know how they will afford to pay up to $10,000 a year in rates.”
Rates across the region will rise by 9.5 per cent each year for three years as of July 1, following a successful bid from Hawkesbury Council for the approval of a special rate variation by the independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
Progress Association representatives said although plans for the orbital link have been halted, they were concerned their rural towns were still at risk.
“Oakville and Maraylya residents are already living with the fear and uncertainty of the Outer
Sydney Orbital corridor, slated to cut their suburbs in half,” Ms Baldwin said.
“Hawkebsury Council failed to offer an explanation as to why they failed to advocate for residents regarding the M9 corridor, even though they had information about it since 2015.”
Hawkesbury Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett said the council received a great deal of communication from local residents on this issue.
“It will obviously take some time for their concerns to be fully allayed after such a roller coaster ride about the Outer Sydney Orbital and Bells Line of Road — we await further information from the State Government about the 200 residents who will reportedly still be affected,” Cr Lyons-Buckett said.
“Hawkesbury City Council will fully review the latest proposal from the NSW Government when it is made available for community consultation.
In response to the State Government backflip, announced yesterday, Cr Lyons-Buckett said: “The power of communication and community engagement can never be underestimated”.
“It is evident from (the) announcement that council’s submission, and the many submissions from the community, has swayed the State Government to take into account community concerns,” se said.