Outer Sydney Orbital: NSW Government backdown from plans for M9 to divide Vineyard, Box Hill
BREAKING: THOUSANDS of submissions against the planned corridor for the Outer Sydney Orbital to cut through Sydney’s North West has resulted in a backflip from the State Government today.
Hills Shire
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THOUSANDS of submissions against the planned corridor for the Outer Sydney Orbital to cut through Sydney’s North West has resulted in a backflip from the State Government today.
Western Sydney Minister Stuart Ayres revealed extensive community consultation led to changes in the corridors for the Outer Sydney Orbital, which was threatening to cut suburbs including Marsden Park, Riverstone, Vineyard, Box Hill, Oakville and Maraylya in two.
Mr Ayres said changes would result in the total number of properties impacted reducing from 1247 to 825 and halve the number of residential dwellings impacted from 399 to 200.
The new corridor will now end at Richmond Rd in Marsden Park.
“We received constructive feedback from right across the community via the online mapping tool, email, phone calls and community sessions,” Mr Ayres said.
“We have listened to feedback and will continue to make refinements to the exhibited corridors as we work through the submissions made during the exhibition.”
The State Government announced that although the corridor will end at Richmond Rd, Marsden Park, the Planning Department would work with local council to identify future options for the route.
Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said changes “reflected the voice of the community”.
“Today’s announcement means these communities have certainty,” she said. “The consultation process has provided transport planners with a great deal of local knowledge and insight.
“A number of suggested minor adjustments to the proposed corridors will be investigated, and where technically feasible, will be adopted.”
Oakville Progress Association representative Matt Marshall said although he considered the announcement a win for the community facing the threat of bulldozers, he was convinced rural suburbs surrounding Oakville and Maraylya were still in the firing line.
“This is a mini-win for us,” he said.
“The road has to go somewhere, so I don’t think we should hold our breath.”
Last week Mr Marshall hit out at corridor plans for the road, which would have seen the eight-lane highway end at his doorstep.
The Outer Sydney Orbital corridor investigation also proposed the motorway should also provide a connection to the Central Coast — yet failed to identify property and land sites expected to be bulldozed.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the government was willing to sit down with property owners interested in selling up for the project.