Riverstone chamber’s urgent plea to NSW Government and Blacktown Council to fix the dying town
RIVERSTONE Schofields Chamber of Commerce has taken aim at Blacktown Council, saying it wasting time over moves to revive Riverstone, which is in a “hold pattern”.
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The issue: The best and quickest ways to revive Riverstone
Who are involved: Roads and Maritime Services, Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly, Blacktown Council, Riverstone Schofields Chamber of Commerce
Most contentious issue: Garfield Rd overpass which could divide the old town and destroy several businesses
RMS plans: To close the railway level crossing and build an overpass there
Overpass options: Garfield Rd overpass: four-lane bridge to span West Parade, the railway line and Railway Terrace or Garfield Rd/Castlereagh St four-lane bridge over the railway line slightly
south of the existing level crossing between these two streets
Where it stands: NSW Government unlikely to make a final decision until more of the north west growth area is completed
Riverstone Schofields Chamber of Commerce has hit out at Blacktown Council and the lack of action to revive the suburb, divided by the rail level crossing and in a “holding pattern”.
Chamber president Kurt Hippe — who favours lifting the railway line over Garfield Rd to eliminate the traffic gridlock which chokes the local CBD — says they are fed up with how the council and State Government have been treating Riverstone.
“A solution is required now rather than wait 20 years — they need to think outside the box, revive the town and offer a simple solution,” Mr Hippe said.
The Riverstone overpass issue has been going on for several years and has seen the town bypassed for development which is transforming neighbouring suburbs of Schofields and Marsden Park.
Mr Hippe’s comments drew immediate fire from Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali who argued that the council does not work on assumptions and has supported the community.
Mr Hippe and chamber members discussed the issues holding back the town at a community forum last month but came away unimpressed by the council’s plans to transform the sleepy suburb into a dynamic one.
“Why do all of the master plan proposals ignore Garfield Rd, the main street, and the majority of our already established businesses?” he asked.
“The options proposed for the Riverstone town centre ignore the already established businesses, connection to the Railway station and the Riverstone Business Park.
“Blacktown Council have advised the preferred master plan options requires the relocation of critical community services and there is no funding to do so far.”
Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali said the master plan will revitalise the town centre and boost the business precinct in Riverstone.
“Council wants a vibrant town centre, not one that has the great wall of Riverstone running through it,” mayor Bali said.
“Council takes planning for our community very seriously and we strongly refute comments by the chamber that council made an ‘assumption’ about the rail crossing on Garfield Rd will be an overpass.
“Council does not work on assumptions.
“Pedestrian safety and economic growth in the Riverstone area are priorities for Blacktown City Council’s Riverstone Master Plan.
“We regret that some business owners along Garfield Rd area will be impacted by the RMS decision, but there is simply no practical option to have businesses on the southern side of Garfield Rd.
“The Garfield Rd overpass is part of the RMS long-term plan for the area.”
Both parties have asked Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly to intervene, with major Bali saying he should get the Garfield Rd overpass scrapped.
Mr Conolly told the Times that he agrees with Mr Hippe that the rail over raid option has “a number of advantages although previous studies have suggested that its cost would be greater than a road bridge”.
“As the government will not be making a final decision on which form of grade-separated crossing will replace the level crossing, if any at all, until more of the north west growth area is completed, Mr Hippe’s suggestion can be further assessed on the basis of data current at that time,” Mr Conolly said.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HIPPE
Chamber president Kurt Hippe told the Times is pushingfor an over the road railway line to duplicate the present line, saying this would save heaps of money while clearing the traffic chaos at this junction.
“As it stands Riverstone is now in a hold pattern but we think we should have a rail over road like the railway line going over Windsor Rd now,” Mr Hippe told the Times.
“Having this rail over option means we can have multiple underpass connections and eliminate the traffic congestion.
“If you lift the whole lot, you will also solve the traffic problems in one hit.”
Mr Hippe said the money the government will be spending on the Denmark link road will be saved if the rail over road goes through, saying he has sensed a positive response to this proposal by both Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly and Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali.
“We need Blacktown Council to act now, go back to the drawing board and fight for our community,’ Mr Hippe said.
“They were opposed to a Garfield Rd overpass; we need to work together and demand investment in Riverstone.
“The State Government needs to review the requirements of Riverstone, duplication of the rail line coupled with a rail over road crossing is the best solution to accommodate the thousands of additional residents moving to the area and the future employment growth expected from The Riverstone West Development.
“A solution is required now rather than wait 20 years — they need to think outside the box, revive the town and offer a simple solution
“Revive the Town rather than let it die and create a blank slate for the RMS to build over.”
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