WestConnex: homeowners’ surprise as M4-M5 tunnel ‘refined’

Charles Bailey thought he knew where WestConnex tunnelling would occur below his Stanmore street, until a neighbour contacted him recently.

Newtown state Greens MP Jenny Leong discusses concerns with resident Charles Bailey. Picture: Quentin Jones

• WestConnex’s “death row”
• Tunnelling cracked our homes: residents

Charles Bailey thought he knew where WestConnex tunnelling would occur below his Stanmore street, until a neighbour contacted him recently.

Revised maps on the project website show tunnelling for the M4-M5 link, between Haberfield and St Peters, will be carried out at the northern end of Cardigan St.

“That’s not where I thought it was going to be,” he said. “It has come as a bit of a shock to me.”

Of more concern for the residents, the tunnelling depth from the surface to the top of the tunnel will be as shallow as 15m.

Homeowners at Haberfield and North Strathfield claim tunnelling has cracked their homes. So far they have not received any compensation from the contractor.

Cardigan St was not identified in an earlier environmental impact statement as a location of shallower tunnelling.

North Strathfield resident Stephanie Dennett with a crack in her bathroom she says was caused by WestConnex tunnelling. Picture: Quentin Jones

A proposed access tunnel from Parramatta Rd is the reason for the shallower depth. Neighbour Deborah Croke was adamant there had been no mention of an entrance nearby and shallower tunnelling.

“We would’ve made a fuss about it if we had known,” she said.

A spokesman for Roads and Maritime Services said the design was refined (see full response below). Residents within 50m of tunnel depth will be offered surveys before and after the works.

WestConnex map. Picture: RMS

A property impact assessment panel will review damage claims. The government set up the panel after criticism of the contractors’ refusal of damage claims.

Newtown state Greens MP Jenny Leong was concerned more homeowners were at risk of damage.

“How shallow does tunnelling have to be before (the space) is considered someone’s home,” she said.

The M4-M5 Link Tunnel is the next stage of WestConnex. Tunnelling is expected to begin next year following approval.

FULL RMS RESPONSE

Tunnelling is a safe and frequently used construction technique that significantly reduces impacts on local properties while still enabling major infrastructure to be delivered in built-up residential areas.

Before construction starts, extensive planning, significant geotechnical investigation work and independent checks are carried out to ensure construction activities are below limits that could cause damage to properties.

The average tunnel depth for the M4-M5 Link Tunnels is around 35 metres. At the deepest point, the top of the tunnels will be around 58 metres below ground level, with shallower sections approaching the tunnel entries and exits.

Work progressing at the WestConnex site at St Peters this month. Picture: Joel Carrett

The EIS provided indicative tunnel depths as part of the reference design. The design has since been further refined which has resulted in the tunnels being less steep and providing a smoother ride which will help reduce emissions.

Residents within 50 metres of the tunnel alignment will be offered pre and post construction property condition surveys and the M4-M5 Link Tunnels contractor is continuing to engage with residents about this.

In line with the Conditions of Approval for the M4-M5 Link, RMS is establishing an Independent Property Impact Assessment Panel early next year, ahead of tunnel excavation work which will be responsible for reviewing property condition surveys and any potential property damage disputes.