WestConnex: residents gone before Rozelle Interchange starts

Neighbours call it “death row” — a stretch of 27 vacant properties at Victoria Rd, Rozelle, which will soon be demolished for the WestConnex Iron Cove Link.

John Todhunter, Monette Lee, Denise Corrigan, Margaret Carter, Mark Crpriana, and David Watson walk past some of the vacant properties on Victoria Rd at Rozelle. Picture: John Appleyard

• WestConnex damage claims denied

Neighbours call it “death row” — a stretch of 27 vacant properties at Victoria Rd, Rozelle, which will soon be demolished for the WestConnex Iron Cove Link.

Some of the houses and businesses between the Iron Cove Bridge and Springside St have stood vacant for months — before they are flattened for a construction site.

Security is being provided for the vacant properties. Picture: John Appleyard

Workers will dig a tunnel near the bridge to the Rozelle interchange as part of the M4-M5 Link stage of WestConnex.

Neighbour Denise Corrigan was amazed at how long the government-acquired houses have stood unused.

“We have a housing crisis in NSW,” she said.

“These are perfectly good homes. Why aren’t we using them for emergency housing.”

John Todhunter, Margaret Carter, Mark Crpriana, Denise Corrigan, Monette Lee and David Watson. Picture: John Appleyard

Some community housing providers offer emergency accommodation to people facing hardship for up to three months.

Ms Corrigan believed some of the properties had been vacant for at least several months.

The government has hired security guards to ensure the properties do not become a place for anti-social behaviour.

Ms Corrigan said that meant more public money wasted.

“(Taxpayers) are now paying for security to look after the houses,” she said.

Some residents are concerned digging for the WestConnex project will pollute the air. Picture: John Appleyard

Her partner David Watson said the neighbourhood had since become a kind of ghost town.

A car dealer, liquor store and photocopying shop were among the businesses that closed.

Preparatory works were due to start at the end of this year.

The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has yet to announce the contractor appointed for the work.

Mr Watson said he wondered if there had been a delay.

The Courier contacted the RMS with the housing and delay concerns.

A spokesman said RMS did lease properties for rent when it held them for an appropriate length of time.

He said the availability of these properties was too short.

He said the contract would be awarded shortly and construction would begin early next year.