250 truckloads of soil to dock each day in Clyde wharf under State Government transport plan

“We’re not your dumping ground”: Parramatta hit back at the decision by State Government to dump disused soil from Barangaroo in Clyde.

Aerial photos of the north Barangaroo construction site. The construction waste may be barged along Parramatta River to Clyde in the west. Picture: Toby Zerna

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Serious concerns about the environmental safety of shipping in the equivalent of more than 250 truckloads of soil per day to Clyde has been raised by Parramatta councillors.

The State Government would send more than 760,000 tonnes of crushed rock on two barges a day from Barangaroo to Clyde in plans submitted to Parramatta Council.

After docking at Clyde, the dirt would be trucked to the final dumping ground via James Ruse Dr, Grand Ave and the M4. It would result in an additional 21,875 heavy vehicles on the roads over two years.

Councillors were worried about the impact on local traffic.

Media were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Barangaroo site, including the chance to visit the 22nd floor. Photos: Chris McKeen

Council is worried about the increase in “bottle-necking” on the roads into Parramatta, like James Ruse Dr and the M4 motorway from Silverwater Rd. Picture: Carmela Roche

“It’s time we tell them what we want,” Liberal councillor Bob Dwyer said.

“There’s already a bottleneck situation on James Ruse Dr and Grand Avenue, are they expecting we wait in traffic for hours for their dirt barges?”

Labor councillor Patricia Provic said western Sydney was “not a dumping ground”.

“It’s time Transport NSW showed Clyde some love,” she said. “Instead of seeing it as the edge of the city, they should see it as the entry to Parramatta.”

The council was also concerned about the potential for barge spillage to pollute Parramatta River.

A seal was recently seen sunning itself on a Silverwater jetty on the Parramatta River. raising concerns about what a series of barges will do to conservation efforts in the area.

The decision was handed to the council by the Transport NSW office, with councillors approaching Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Parramatta Member Geoff Lee MP for an explanation.

“We have a plan to clean up the river even more,” Liberal councillor Steve Issa said.

“We’re working with the catchment group on the possibility of a Silverwater Park swimming spot and there was a seal spotted in the area just this week.

“What does a barge do to our conservation and cleaning work that we have been carrying out in the last 10 years?”

A swimming facility at Silverwater Park was planned for a spot 200m away from the proposed barge route.

Council staff said the State Government had provided no advice on the final destination of the dirt.

The council will call on Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee to reconsider the plan.