Issue 164 15 May 2019
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Transport NSW and John Holland representatives accused of aggressive bullying tactics K
angy Angy Residents Action Group (KARAG) members claim that they have been shut out of transparent and meaningful communication by Transport NSW and the contractor, John Holland, at the Intercity Rail Maintenance Facility in Orchard Rd. “It’s more or less a stalemate,” said group member, Susan Zgraja. “Their idea of community liaison is that they will inform us of what they want us to know and when, and they don’t want to hear our comments, questions or feedback,” she said. Susan said they have “flatly refused” a group meeting, so a meeting was scheduled between another member, Tracey Stewart, and Paul Galea who is Communications and Stakeholder Manager of the rail facility’s contractor, John Holland. Susan said she accompanied Tracey to the meeting and unexpectedly there was also a representative of Transport NSW, who objected to Susan being there because she was not invited and told her
The vast tract of land that was cleared of more than 4000 trees to make way for heavy industry in a rural area she could not be part of State Member for The to get a designated bus Transport NSW had the meeting. Entrance, David Mehan, stop at the site entrance applied for more land “He was loud, said Transport NSW was where an informal bus and invited submissions, which we did,” Susan aggressive and bullying not dealing fairly with the stop was operating. towards us, and said that community. “Public works need to said. if I did not leave he would “They could be doing a be to the benefit of the “The OEH had indicated cancel the meeting and much better job,” he said. wider community, not just to us that it was inclined that would be the end of He said he was working because the government to give them permission, it,” Susan said. however, we objected through a few things and needs something. “Afterwards we both attempting to get some “It seems we are because it would cause environmental received emails from, improvements, such dealing with a very more Paul Galea, saying there as the water and sewer arrogant government,” damage and the removal of even more mature was no need for face- connection to residents, Mehan said. to-face meetings and which was firmly KARAG’s aim for the trees, they’ve already all questions would be indicated in the first place meeting was to get ripped out about 4,000.” answered in emails,” as one of the benefits for information about the A report to Central Susan said. the community but now extra parcel of land Coast Council’s meeting She said that since neither Transport NSW or Transport NSW wanted on March 25 said that that so-called meeting, it Council seemed to want and the progress, if any, of Transport NSW applied has been “more or less a to do it. a noise wall surrounding to OEH to modify its development in order to stalemate”. “We still don’t have a the site. “We’re not going to final design to see the “We had been conduct additional works give up, but we don’t visual impact on the informed by the Office outside the approved site know how to get past this residents,” he said. of Environment and boundary, which would fait accompli. Mehan has managed Heritage (OEH) that entail clearing an extra
0.58ha of vegetation and habitat for 13 identified animals. “Clearance of the extra land is not considered by Transport NSW to have a significant impact on threatened biodiversity, and the OEH proposes to allow the clearance of the additional 0.58ha,” the report said. Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said a submission would be lodged on a point of clarification only at this stage and a review of the matter was ongoing. Susan said Transport NSW was also dodging the issue of installing a noise wall surrounding the site. “It was part of the original plan but they keep coming up with the same reason all the time that they haven’t completed the design, but I think it is because of the cost. “This is a heavy industry operating 24/7 we’re talking about, in a quiet rural area, and they haven’t solved the noise problem. “A lot of complaints have been because of the intrusion of noise, vibration, loss of privacy and the clearing of the land.
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