Sydney Metro West delay: Residents left in dark amid project future, ‘prolonging anxiety, uncertainty’
Amid reports of a project delay, or even cancellation, residents around Metro West tunnelling sites have revealed the “huge impact” of ongoing construction and their fears of years in limbo.
Inner West
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Amid reports of a project delay, or even cancellation, residents around Metro West tunnelling sites have revealed the “huge impact” of ongoing construction, and their fears about it being prolonged.
On Monday, Premier Chris Minns forecasted an uncertain future for the western line of Sydney Metro – linking the Sydney and Parramatta CBDs – citing an “extreme cost creep”.
For residents and businesses around the Five Dock Metro site it’s been 18 months of “upheaval”.
“I’m barely able to get any work done (because of the noise) and am forced to leave the house,” Five Dock resident Vanessa McDonald Costa said.
“There’s been huge upheaval and we’ve lost the village feel.”
“We don’t want to stop the project, we just want to live in peace in our home were we’ve been for 15 years.”
There are concerns delays will prolong the construction on their doorstep, and the uncertainty.
“I have serious concerns if the project is delayed beyond 2030,” Ms McDonald Costa said.
“However, given the cost blowouts, I wouldn’t be upset if the project was cancelled, and the money and land used for social and affordable housing instead.”
Ms McDonald Costa, who lives with a disability, was also keen for more provisions in Metro’s communications for disabled residents.
“There’s no disability inclusion plan, it’s just a one size fits all approach,” she said.
Felipe Torres is a fence away from the station work site. The view from his home windows has changed from a sunrise to a large ominous acoustic tent.
“We’ve lost the sun now, it’s an imposing structure,” Mr Torres said.
“It limits our vision, there’s a sense of feeling caged in. We lose the breeze in the summer and the sun in the winter.”
Mr Torres was worried about any delays would “lead to more unrelenting disruption”.
“This will create greater uncertainty and anxiety for residents and businesses already experiencing high levels of frustration and fatigue,” he said.
“But if it’s cancelled, all of the disruption would have been for nothing, and community trust would plummet further.”
Tunnelling is planned under homes on Lancelot St, Five Dock. Saumiya Nathan said residents like herself weren’t surprised about potential delays.
“We were told (by the contractor) ‘we’re running behind but we won’t forget about you’ – things have always been changing,” Ms Nathan said, comparing the uncertainty to a “time bomb”.
“What does this mean for us, how long will we sit here waiting for the tunnelling under us to start? No one can make plans.”
On Great North Rd, the main thoroughfare around the site, businesses fear delays, or cancellation all together.
“I’m not shocked it’s over budget and delayed,” Appetite Cafe owner Philip Salhab said.
“History shows these things struggle to stay on track – it’s hard for people like us to be confident.”
Mr Salhab, however, said the cafe was prepared for “short term pain for long term gain”.
“Our business focus has shifted to Metro workers, who spend like every other customer,” he said.
“So from our perspective, while the disruption is frustrating, we’ve had to refocus our business.”
Canada Bay councillor Andrew Ferguson, while welcoming the project, said residents felt ignored.
“The government needs to ensure that they minimise inconvenience as best as possible for residents and small business who are most directly impacted,” the councillor said.
“We need meaningful and effective consultation, and genuine responses rather than just ticking a box – the new government needs to ensure with anticipated delays in the project that we minimise disruption.”
Drummoyne NSW MP and Canada Bay deputy mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua urged for clarity.
“It is vital that this important piece of infrastructure is delivered and that construction continues, however, I am sympathetic to local residents and businesses surrounding the site who are seeking simple solutions during the construction process,” the MP said.
“Businesses and town centres are already suffering – any construction delays will mean more impacts to communities, households and small businesses.”
A Sydney Metro spokeswoman said the body “remained committed to working with local communities to minimise impacts”.
“Contractors use a variety of measures to manage construction impacts, including limiting work at night where possible, selecting quieter plant and equipment, staging construction activities to minimise impacts and providing respite breaks for noise-intensive activities,” she said.
“We recognise people with a disability may be more vulnerable to impacts from major projects. These impacts were considered as part of the project’s social impact assessment and publicly exhibited as part of the project’s environmental impact statement.
“To support all impacted residents, Sydney Metro has dedicated place managers who can provide a flexible and responsive approach to meeting their needs including providing respite from construction activities.”.
News tip? Email alexi.demetriadi@news.com.au
‘Anyone can win the comp’: Upsets continue in Brewer Shield return
After a long break, the U18s Brewer Shield returned on Sunday where the upsets continued in the race to the finals. From punishing spells to lone hands, here’s how round 12 played out.
‘Trailblazer’: Long serving Sydney councillor, mayor dies
Former Inner West councillor and mayor Rochelle Porteous has died, with colleagues paying tribute to the “trailblazer” for not only the Greens, but women, in local government.