Family vow to fight Outer Sydney Orbital

THE impact of the M9 Outer Sydney Orbital draft corridor continues to reverberate, with one Cobbitty family’s dream home to be obliterated by an eight-lane motorway and freight rail line.

Parents Andrew and Jess Simpson wanted to raise their three children in Cobbitty but now face an uncertain future. Picture: Angelo Velardo

• M9 OUTER SYDNEY ORBITAL: “This will impact people’s lives”

• FEATURE: “Our road and rail future”

DEVASTATION. Disbelief. Tears. Shock. Heartbreak.

The impact of the M9 Outer Sydney Orbital draft corridor continues to reverberate, with one Cobbitty family’s dream home to be obliterated by an eight-lane motorway and freight rail line.

Mum Jess Simpson (pictured with children Evie, Will and Ryan and husband Andrew) fears the M9 will damage the region’s rural aspect. Picture: Angelo Velardo

The Simpson family, Andrew, Jess and their three young children, learnt of the horror last Monday.

“It was our seventh wedding anniversary and a bombshell we never wanted,” Mrs Simpson said.

“We stretched ourselves to purchase this home because we loved it and wanted it to be ours until we were old, and then pass it on to our three children.

“It is still mind boggling to picture an eight lane motorway and two lanes of freight rail snaking through these beautiful suburbs. This doesn’t just impact those that stand to lose their homes, it impacts us all.”

The proposed M9 Outer Orbital and North-South Rail Link draft corridors.

Mrs Simpson has bottled the community spirit, creating the Outer Sydney Orbital Macarthur Action Group Facebook, swiftly rising to 1900 members.

“I started the group because ultimately I just wanted to talk to others who were affected,” she said.

“The general vibe of the group is that everyone understands the need for infrastructure and forward planning, but the proposed road just seems unfathomable. We will fight it, not just for our family, but for everyone in the area now and in the future.”

The rural amenity of Cobbitty will be impacted if the eight-lane motorway is constructed.

Camden Liberal Mayor Lara Symkowiak said Camden Council would seek to advocate on behalf of impacted residents.

“My initial reaction is this is one of the largest announcements in decades and will provide many benefits for our residents with connections to the wider Sydney area,” she said.

“While it won’t go away we need to advocate for our residents who are impacted and seek a better alternative for our local government area.

“I am still really concerned with the specific corridor route, particularly where it goes through Cobbitty and skirts through Ellis Lane.”

The Simpson family home will be obliterated by the M9 Outer Sydney Orbital draft corridor. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Camden Mayor Lara Symkowiak said she will advocate for impacted residents. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Transport for NSW will host two drop-in information sessions at Camden Civic Centre on Tuesdays, April 10 and May 1 at 6pm.

The Outer Sydney Orbital Macarthur Action Group has scheduled a community meeting at Cobbitty Public School Hall on Wednesday at 7pm.

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