WestConnex: Inner West Council wins $2.8m from govt over controversial project
A suburban stoush between the state government and Sydney council has seen close to $3 million paid out to ensure the controversial WestConnex project finishes on time.
Inner West
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The state government will pay almost $3 million over a controversial acquisition of an inner west park for the latest stage of WestConnex.
Transport for NSW had compulsorily acquired the land in January but the agreement had only been reached this month after lawyers for the department and Inner West Council fought over the site at King George Park.
The Rozelle park is used by thousands of junior footballers throughout the year and is one of the most popular sporting grounds in the inner west.
It also forms part of the Bay Run precinct where swarms of runners exercise every day.
As part of the $2.8 million deal Transport for NSW will take over the park as well as an 800 sqm construction zone as part of the M4-M5 link.
However, It will have to hand over 72 per cent of the park back to the council by 2025.
Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne said his local government area had the lowest ratio of open public space to people in Sydney and that the multi-billion project had “disproportionately disadvantaged” residents.
“We’ve fought hard to win compensation for the community and this funding will go straight back into the neighbourhood,” said Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne
“The impacts from WestConnex on residents around King George Park have been horrendous, so improving their quality of life is the priority now.”
The state government has also been ordered to pay the council’s cost of fighting the project.
“Compensation was agreed with Inner West Council for the compulsory acquisition of a very small part of the park near Victoria Road. This land was formerly Crown Land,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said.
“Most of King George Park will remain intact for the benefit and enjoyment of Inner West residents and as an important part of the popular Bay Run.”
Residents have long lamented the project’s impact on their day to day lives with complaints of pollution, noise and smells wafting into their homes.
In September 2019 the NSW Environmental Protection Agency went up against an inner west WestConnex Interchange contractor at St Peters, CPB Contractors, in the Land and Environment Court.
The company was ordered to pay $295,000 to the Environmental Trust and a further $150,000 in EPA investigative and legal costs.
“The Court found that the odour from untreated leachate or contaminated water pooling at the interchange site caused substantial harm to the community and impacted human health,” EPA Regional Director Metropolitan Giselle Howard said of the case this week.
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