Cumberland Council calls for government to fast-track driverless cars

A bid to future proof a Sydney community with driverless cars could solve traffic gridlock but bemused critics questioned “the Jetsons” idea when their council found it “almost impossible” to widen bridges.

A motion to prioritise driverless cars in Cumberland was likened to the futuristic Jetsons.

A Cumberland councillor who is pushing to accelerate driverless cars across his western Sydney community insists it’s not a far-flung idea despite critics labelling it as “pie-in-the-sky stuff’’.

Labor’s Enver Yasar introduced the motion at the council’s Wednesday night meeting to show Cumberland was “forward thinking and values innovation”.

“We’re not saying the change is coming tomorrow but we are saying it’s coming and we should be ready,’’ he said.

“This is about future proofing our city and making sure Cumberland is not just watching from the sidelines, but helping shape what the future looks like in western Sydney.’’

But councillor Joseph Rahme wasn’t sold on the idea.

Enver Yasar says driverless cars are not a far-flung idea. Picture: Facebook

Cumberland councillor Joseph Rahme disagrees.

“I can’t help but think – are we trying to bring to life the Jetsons, like are we talking about what I think we’re talking about?’’ he asked the general manager.

“I love thinking that’s based on Utopia and the absolute Nirvana but … if want to talk about the future of transport in Cumberland – we’re currently in a world where we can’t even get digital signals to reinstate express trains in Granville.

Reinstate express trains to Granville first, Cr Rahme said.

“We find it almost impossible to widen two bridges that have probably been there for 80 years, maybe 100 years – the Mona St bridge and Wellington Rd – and now we’re trying to move a motion to arm our LGA to be ready for driverless cars.’’

Councillor Steve Christou echoed his objections to “pie in the sky stuff, wasting council resources on things that are never going to eventuate’’.

“We don’t even have charging stations for these driverless cars – we haven’t even got off first base – so I would rather that council focus on the basics – I would rather council didn’t raise their rates on residents, I’d rather the potholes outside were fixed up, the leaking roof in Merrylands Library was fixed up, the overgrown weeds on roundabouts and verges were mowed,’’ he said.

“I can safely predict, long after I’m gone – it will be the year 2100 and this still won’t eventuate.’’

Australian Centre for Field Robotics’ Stewart Worrell eschews a steering wheel during a driverless vehicle trial at Chippendale. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Deputy Mayor Michael Zaiter and councillor Glenn Elmore supported the idea.

“We can always say ‘this is never going to happen’,’’ Cr Elmore said.

“People said that about the first Lunar Lodge landing on the moon, people said we’ll never see televisions.

“It’s going to happen and … we should be ready for it.’’

The only EV charging stations at Cumberland are on private land at Stockland Merrylands, Red Rooster Guildford, Metro Petrol Station South Granville and Wenty Leagues Club but the council is considering running one at Civic Park, Pendle Hill, if the carpark expands.

Look, no hands. An example of an autonomous vehicle.

Cr Yasar, who represents the Regents Park ward, said the proposal could cut traffic congestion and boost safety.

“This technology is here right now, it’s not some far-flung thing, it’s not asking for infrastructure rollouts, we’re not asking to build EV chargers,’’ he said.

Cr Yasar had enough support to get over the line.

Councillors Nadima Kafrouni-Saba, Rahme and Christou opposed the motion. Cr Eddy Sarkis was absent from the meeting.

The council will now call on the state and federal governments to expedite legislative reforms to enable safe and regulated autonomous passenger vehicles in Australia.

It will also advocate for Cumberland to be considered as a priority location for future autonomous vehicle trials and pilot programs.

Originally published as Cumberland Council calls for government to fast-track driverless cars