Camden residents put politicians on notice about M9

DESPITE the community backlash, local politicians predict the M9 - which will cut a swathe through homes and properties - is a “certainty”.

The meeting between local residents and government representatives together with representatives for the the proposal of the new M9. Picture: Carmela Roche

• University welcomes orbital option
• Family vows to fight M9
• Councillors want M9 route further west

LOCAL MPs have told disgruntled Camden residents the proposed M9 Outer Sydney Orbital (OSO) would ‘absolutely’ go ahead.

More than 1000 people packed Camden Civic Centre on Saturday for a chance to question local politicians about the proposed motorway and freight line corridor announced last month by the NSW Government.

Government and motorway representatives at Camden Civic Centre. Picture: Carmela Roche

Camden MP Chris Paterson, Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell and Camden Mayor Lara Symkowiak (all Liberal) vowed to join the community to have the motorway realigned from the current proposal, which would see an eight-lane motorway and freight rail line cut through Cobbitty and become a noisy neighbour for residents in Grasmere, Brownlow Hill, Menangle and surrounding suburbs.

The current corridor route will go through 59 homes and be within 500m of 460 more.

“A number of people in this room have written and spoken and said we want the OSO but with the realignment,” Mr Patterson said.

“If I’m being as honest as I can with you there is basically nil chance that there won’t be an OSO gazetted.

“It’s about providing future infrastructure, not shifting it to somebody else’s backyard, but minimising (the impact) of the proposal.”

Residents were concerned about the proposed M9 route at Camden Civic Centre. Picture: AAP/Carmela Roche

People at the Camden Civic Centre forum complained about the lack of consultation. Picture: AAP/Carmela Roche

Many residents questioned the consultation process and were dismayed that other options for the M9 had not been explained to them in detail despite several other routes having been touted by Transport NSW.

A Transport NSW spokesman admitted the department had consulted with developers and Sydney University before the draft corridor, which is on public exhibition, had been released to the public.

“We had tried out best to come up with a viable option that we thought had threaded the needle,” he said.

“We’re hearing loud and clear that although we’ve avoided a lot of houses, we do go near a lot of people’s houses. When we consulted in 2015 we had submissions from 1200 people and organisations including Sydney University.’’

More than 1000 people attended the M9 forum at Camden Civic Centre. Picture: Carmela Roche

MAKE A SUBMISSION

● M9 Motorway consultation

● Transport NSW is encouraging people to comment on the draft corridor by June 1

● Visit transport.nsw.gov.au/corridors or email [e-mail]

● Camden Council wants people to cc [e-mail] in all submissions

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