Canterbury-Bankstown Council demands Sydney Metro foot $175K repair bill for road damage

A southwest Sydney council at loggerheads with Sydney Metro has revealed the cost to repair roads damaged by hundreds of extra buses operating in the city.

A southwest Sydney council at loggerheads with Sydney Metro has revealed the cost to repair roads damaged by hundreds of extra buses operating in the city.

Close to 400 Sydney Metro replacement buses have been operating in the Canterbury-Bankstown area since the shut down of the T3 Bankstown line in October last year.

However the additional buses have seen a dramatic spike in road damages including “dangerous” potholes and cracks.

A southwest Sydney council at loggerheads with Sydney Metro has revealed the eye-watering cost of road damages caused by up to 400 replacement buses operating in the city.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Canterbury-Bankstown Council revealed it had spent more than $175,000 to date repairing the damages and passed a motion to demand the newly appointed Minister for Transport, John Graham, “honour” the commitment to reimburse the city.

It is a condition of consent that Sydney Metro covers the cost of damages caused during the construction phase.

However the council states it has received no guarantee from Sydney Metro that it will do so, despite ongoing talks.

A Sydney Metro spokesperson said: “Sydney Metro and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) continue to engage regularly with Canterbury Bankstown Council about this issue and is committed to working to resolve it.”

The spokesperson said TfNSW had undertaken an initial road condition assessment in September 2024 ahead of replacement bus services commencing.

“These assessments and further planned testing will form a basis for the continued discussions with council,” they added.

Deputy Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown Council Khodr Saleh on Belmore Rd. Increased bus traffic due to the T3 shutdown has seen a spike in road damages. Picture: Supplied

Deputy Mayor Khodr Saleh, Labor councillor for Roselands ward, confirmed council had met with Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis on Wednesday.

“Over the past month, I have been working tirelessly with council staff and Sophie Cotsis to hold Sydney Metro accountable for the severe road damage caused by light rail construction and (to) prioritise funding for permanent road repairs,” Cr Saleh said.

“I believe these damaged roads have created serious safety risks for local drivers and pedestrians in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, and Punchbowl.

“I understand we are very close to reaching an outcome which will be a win for the community and a win for council.”

According to Independent councillor for Bass Hill ward Saud Abu-Samen, Sydney Metro was yet to complete a dilapidation report despite buses running since October 1 last year.

Speaking at the council meeting, Cr Abu-Samen said: “We are receiving a lot of complaints from residents in our city regarding (replacement) transport damaging our roads.

“It is important Transport for NSW take some responsibility.”

"Dangerous" pothole on Lakemba St, Belmore on 05.11.2024, Picture: Canterbury Bankstown Express

The council has carried out patch-repair jobs across Metro bus replacement routes, however Cr Abu-Samen said the current work was only a “Band-Aid solution”.

“What we need is a more durable solution that can withstand the higher traffic volume and provide long-term relief for our residents and commuters,” he said.

“This expenditure can only occur when the NSW Government commits to funding the repair of damage it is doing in accordance with their own Conditions of Consent.

“The Metro is a $20 billion project, and the Government must be held to account for the damage caused.”

It comes months after the council first reported a surge in Metro replacement bus-related damages including reoccurring “dangerous” potholes and cracks.

Along one bus route in Belmore, Lakemba St residents said a “dangerous” reoccurring pothole had been patched up at least five times over the past two months.

They said the last two repairs had been made within days of each other.