Community groups petition against Sydney Metro Southwest plan
Community groups against the controversial Sydney Metro southwest are gathering more petitions to submit to a parliamentary inquiry.
The Express
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Express. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NSW parliamentary inquiry into the controversial Sydney South West Metro has been extended until Sunday, October 13, as residential community groups opposed to it make a concerted push for more petitions.
Save the Bankstown Line spokesman Roydon Ng said more than 500 submissions had been made to the inquiry, chaired by Abigail Boyd of The Greens.
The Canterbury Greens is also opposing the Sydney Metro Southwest, saying it makes “no sense to rip up a perfectly serviceable rail line and replace it with another rail line.”
The inquiry will report on aspects of the planned conversion of the Sydenham-Bankstown Line from heavy rail to metro, the consultation process undertaken and the impact on the stations west of Bankstown.
An additional hearing date has been added for the inquiry due to the large volume of submission. It will be held from November 6 until November 8.
“I am glad there’s an inquiry as it will force the government to justify why nine stations west of Bankstown deserve to lose all trains to the city,” Mr Ng told The Express.
“The Bankstown Line will be shutting down for a fortnight from Christmas this year but it doesn’t mean any actual major construction is taking place.
“Ultimately as long as the government can’t afford to build it, there’s still time to stop the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro.”
The total cost of Sydney city and southwest Metro will be between $11.5 and $12.4 billion.
A Transport for NSW spokesman told The Express they will work with the NSW Parliament as required.
WHY RESIDENTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT METRO
“Work is already under way to deliver new-generation metro rail, with a train every four minutes in each direction at all 11 stations between Bankstown and Sydenham when Sydney Metro services start in 2024,” the spokesman said.
“The Sydenham to Bankstown metro rail upgrade received planning approval in December 2018.”
The spokesman said the state government had already awarded a line-wide contract between Chatswood and Bankstown, which included 31km of overhead power equipment and 11 new substations to power the metro.
SOUTHWEST METRO TO TRANSFORM LINE
Canterbury Bankstown Council Mayor Khal Asfour had previously been opposed to the plan but changed his mind after the 2019 state elections, saying the residents had voted for the metro.
Cr Asfour wants the Metro to be underground and unite Bankstown city.
Mr Paul Fitzgerald, the convener of the Canterbury Greens, said they wanted construction of the Metro to either stop at Sydenham or, if it continued, to go to areas currently without rail.
“When the Metro is built, 19,000 commuters from nine stations west of Bankstown — Yagoona, Birrong, Regents Park, Berala, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood and Carramar — will have to break their journey to change trains,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“Many of them will have to change trains twice, when they don’t have to do it at all now.
“Buses will replace trains, adding to the already deplorable road congestion on Canterbury Rd, other arterials and all the streets in the area.”
The Sydney Metro Southwest will include an upgrade of the current stations at Bankstown, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl.
IN OTHER NEWS
