Lidcombe’s Carter Street Precinct: Only one entrance, exit for 6200 homes

Traffic planning woes continue for one of the nation’s densest communities where the government wants just one entry into an emerging suburb with over 6000 homes.

First the state government axed a promised vital $140 million exit from the M4 into Sydney Olympic Park where the population is soaring, unleashing disapproval from motorists, the business community and residents.

Now Sydney Olympic Park and Business Western Sydney and Sydney Olympic Park Business Association have implored the government to reconsider plans which propose just one entry into the Carter Street Precinct where 6200 dwellings are slated for the “masterplanned” community.

Several projects are planned as part of the Hill Street Upgrade, including the having one left turn in and out of the precinct.

Instead, it its feedback to Transport for NSW, the chambers want traffic lights and pedestrian crossings at the Carter St and Hill Rd intersection, as well as maintaining the right turn into Carter St from Hill Rd and allowing two entrances.

Lidcombe’s Carter Street Precinct will be one of the most populated in Sydney and the nation.

“Two access points from Hill Rd into the growing residential Carter Street Precinct is surely better than one,’’ Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger said.

“People wanting to access the new Carter Street Precinct are naturally drawn to the intersection with Hill Rd at Carter St and that makes it a strong candidate for traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

“It’s common sense that motorists, pedestrians and cyclists will make the most direct route to their destination.’’

Hill Rd is a major road serving the rapidly growing communities where residents have been deprived of infrastructure including the government’s failure to commit to stage two of Parramatta Light Rail.

“Tinkering with Hill Rd is playing at the edges,’’ Mr Borger said.

“What the booming residential communities of Wentworth Point and Carter Street need is Parramatta Light Rail stage 2 to be delivered, as promised, by the NSW Government.

“That is the only serious transport investment that will take pressure of Hill Rd and improve transport access to the Olympic Peninsula while we wait for Sydney Metro West.”

But TfNSW ruled out installing traffic lights at Carter St and Hill Rd because it would create more congestion from the other signalised intersections nearby.

When completed, there will be three sets of traffic lights along Hill Rd (at Parramatta Rd, the M4 eastbound off-ramp and at John Ian Wing Pde) over 530m.

Instead, it said the proposal for one entrance and exit would improve traffic flow to

Wentworth Point peninsula and Newington by carrying out intersection upgrades, widening Hill Rd, the eastern extension on John Ian Wing Pde, and realigning the left turn from Parramatta Rd onto Birnie Ave at Lidcombe.

OFF-RAMP BACKLASH RAGES ON

The business chambers’ joint submission also expressed disapproval over dumping the M4 exit that was promised in 2014 so it would be operating when WestConnex opened in 2019.

The road was seen as a significant investment for residents commuting from the city to Olympic Park, Wentworth Point and Carter Street those driving to Sydney Olympic Park for major events.

But in January, it was revealed the project was cancelled because of what TfNSW said was safety concerns.

The chambers were outraged that canning the off-ramp would force drivers to use “Australia’s worst roundabout’’ at Australia Ave-Underwood Rd and endure the congested Homebush Bay Drive.

The chambers’ feedback to the government said the organisations were given multiple assurances the project would proceed.

“We are also disappointed with the approach that Transport for NSW has decided to communicate the decision to cancel the off ramp,’’ the submission said.

“Including this ‘announcement’ as a small breakout box in a community flyer on the Hill Rd upgrade is not an example of strong stakeholder management for a project that was initially announced by two government ministers as a major transport investment in the region.’’

It called for an overhaul of its communications policies.

A TfNSW said the safety concerns and traffic impacts caused “a thorough’’ investigation.

“Transport for NSW appreciates the business chambers’ concerns over the change of plans and the perception of a delay in advising of the decision,’’ he said.

At a February 8 Parramatta Council meeting, Labor councillor Patricia Prociv wanted to know why the off-ramp was considered dangerous five years since the project was announced.

“Why all of a sudden is it dangerous? Was it dangerous at the time of the announcement or did something happen in the last five years that resulted in this conclusion?

“If it was part of the original plan it should have been built by now. Or was it a political after thought in the form of an announcement. to justify development in Olympic Park, that, when push came to shove could not be physically constructed?’’

Others said it should instead of calling for the council to write to the government, other councillors called for the off-ramp to be reinstated.

But Cr Prociv’s motion for the council CEO to write to TfNSW seeking information about the safety audit and whether funding had been set aside of the off-ramp in the budgets since 2015 was defeated.

Liberal councillor Bill Tyrrell said the motion had no substance.

“All this motion is, is about collecting political points for the ALP,’’ he said.

Feedback into off-ramp has now closed. TfNSW will next consider the public submissions on the intersection upgrade and publish a consultation report.

An environmental assessment is being prepared and will be displayed publicly this year.

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