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Sleepless nights as round-the-clock Metronet works start in Armadale

By Sarah Brookes

Residents say they are struggling to sleep now that round-the-clock Metronet works have cranked up along the Armadale train line.

The line shut down in November, which the state said was the quickest, easiest and safest way to give the 130-year-old line the $2 billion makeover that will extend it 8 kilometres to Byford.

Residents say the humming and vibration from Metronet night works are impacting their wellbeing.

Residents say the humming and vibration from Metronet night works are impacting their wellbeing. Credit: Sarah Brookes

Metronet said the out-of-hours works, most of which will take place Sunday to Thursday nights, were necessary to complete the new elevated rail bridge and Armadale Station.

The works include the use of heavy machinery, lighting towers, power tools and generators and are expected to last until mid-2025.

Residents were reluctant to be named, fearing online abuse, but one said while they were given plenty of warning about the disruptive works this could not mitigate their effect.

“If we were in the position to move we absolutely would have, but that’s not an option for us,” she said.

“We live every day listening to constant noise and vibrations as the works are right outside our front door.

“My kids go to sleep listening to the humming of machines, we live every day feeling the vibrations through our feet … no amount of warning can justify living like this.”

One FIFO worker said the works were causing her house to shudder and it was affecting her mental health.

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“It gets freaking exhausting,” she said.

“I can’t even relax when I get home because the machinery noise from the train station site is relentless.

Work on the Armadale train line.

Work on the Armadale train line.Credit: Colin Murty

“Every single day. I’m seriously balancing on a tightrope.”

Others supported the works ramping up, saying the pain was worth the gain.

A Metronet spokesman said its dedicated community line had not received complaints.

He said the out-of-hours works had always been planned and noise monitoring was conducted at all times on the project to ensure it remained within allowable limits.

“While some level of disruption is unavoidable, Metronet and its partners work hard to ensure this is kept to a minimum, and advance notice is provided for any out-of-hours work,” he said.

“Due to the complex nature of the project, some activities need to be conducted outside standard working hours to minimise disruption to roads, public transport, local businesses and other critical services.”

The project team said it was trying to schedule noisier and higher-vibration works during standard hours when possible and reducing light spillage by directing lighting towers as far from homes as possible.

It said undertaking works at night would significantly reduce the overall duration of construction and therefore disruption.

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Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has previously said she was confident the project would be done by May 2025.

Opposition Leader and opposition transport spokesman Shane Love offered his sympathies to families, saying he had brought many complaints to Parliament on behalf of residents in Bayswater and Victoria Park regarding Metronet works impacts.

“This government cares very little about Metronet contract works causing distress, concern or damage to residents and their homes,” he said.

“I expect the same contemptuous disregard will also be applied to Armadale residents.”

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Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/sleepless-nights-as-round-the-clock-metronet-works-start-in-armadale-20240806-p5jzzd.html