M9 Orbital submission debated by Camden Council
DEBATE raged in the Camden Council chambers last night, with councillors divided over whether the council’s M9 Outer Sydney Orbital submission went far enough.
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DEBATE raged in the Camden Council chambers last night, with councillors divided over whether the council’s M9 Outer Sydney Orbital submission went far enough.
The draft submission, which raised a myriad of concerns including air pollution, noise and environmental impact, advocated for the motorway to be tunnelled almost in entirety.
After much discussion Camden Council endorsed the draft.
However, Labor councillors Cindy Cagney and Paul Farrow did not support the submission to Transport for NSW, claiming it didn’t accurately reflect the community’s condemnation of the proposal.
“There is 95 per cent of the (council officer) report I would be happy to endorse — but I have actually not spoken to one person in the community who wants this to go ahead,” Cr Cagney said.
“While (the report) says we don’t like the proposed route, we are not saying people are totally opposed to it.”
Cr Farrow called for council to advocate the complete “scrapping” of the proposed corridor and advocate to Transport for NSW the need to restart the process from the beginning.
“I am asking we amend the current recommendation, to include the point that council calls on Transport for NSW and the NSW Government to scrap the blue lines (M9 OSO draft corridor), go back to the drawing board and consult properly with the community,” Cr Farrow said.
“I don’t think (our submission) goes far enough.”
Camden Liberal Mayor Lara Symkowiak supported council’s draft submission, with a slight amendment to emphasise the importance of the area’s rural beauty.
“In council’s submission, under the land uses section, we do mention about conflict with council’s Rural Land Strategy and a number of rural lands impacted by the corridor,” she said.
“It is important that, given the high agricultural production in our LGA, it is highlighted and drawn out more (in Camden Council’s submission to Transport for NSW).”
Camden Council has received more than 140 community submissions, which will be attached to council’s submission to Transport for NSW.
Labor Cr Ashleigh Cagney and independent Cr Eva Campbell were absent from the meeting.
Independent Cr Rob Mills was absent from the debate, due to holding a pecuniary interest.