Decision details

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Chan –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         WestConnex is Australia’s most expensive toll road project, estimated to cost more than $20 billion;

(ii)        local community groups, the Greens and the City of Sydney were strongly opposed to WestConnex on grounds including, but not limited to, the cost, the environmental impact, the health impact from pollution, the prioritisation of car travel over public and active transport, and the risk that the project would lead to increased road congestion at key points;

(iii)      the final piece of the privatised road project was the opening of the WestConnex Rozelle Interchange in November 2023;

(iv)      following the opening of the Rozelle Interchange there has been significantly increased congestion for travellers into the Sydney CBD, particularly those travelling from the Balmain peninsula;

(v)       the impacts of the Rozelle interchange extend far beyond its physical boundaries by inducing traffic into local streets in surrounding neighbourhoods, such as Pyrmont Bridge Road and Bridge Road in Glebe;

(vi)      several immediate, small changes were made by the NSW Government in response to calls by the community and local MP for Balmain Kobi Shetty, including added lane space on City West Link and a commitment to return the right-hand turn from Johnston Street onto The Crescent at Glebe. However, the core issues and congestion remain, and further action is urgently needed;

(vii)     the Greens NSW secured a Legislative Council Inquiry into the WestConnex Rozelle Interchange;

(viii)    the Legislative Council Inquiry into WestConnex Rozelle Interchange:

(a)       extended the deadline for submissions and responses to the online questionnaire until Tuesday, 2 April 2024;

(b)       will be hosting a public forum at NSW Parliament on Wednesday, 10 April 2024. Members of the public can register to speak through the NSW Parliament website; and

(c)       will be holding public hearings on 10, 23 and 24 April 2024. City staff anticipate the City will be invited to a hearing. There are seven submissions to date;

(ix)      the City of Sydney made a detailed submission to the NSW Legislative Council WestConnex Rozelle Interchange Inquiry. The City of Sydney’s submission proposes potential solutions including:

(a)       the NSW Government funding and delivering the City’s Broadway Green Avenue proposal, including footpath widening, a cycleway, zero emissions buses and light rail along Broadway and Parramatta Road;

(b)       the NSW Government to fund walking and cycling improvements along Victoria Road and restoring the Glebe Island Bridge; and

(c)       other non-road-first plans to alleviate congestion;

(B)      in May 2023, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Roads and the Minister for Transport about funding and implementing the City’s proposal for the Broadway Green Avenue envisaged by Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 Continuing the Vision. In May 2024, the Lord Mayor will raise the matter again in a meeting with the Minister for Transport;

(C)      Council note that in addition for calling for public and active transport solutions, a petition has been launched by the Greens MP for Balmain Kobi Shetty which calls on the Minister for Roads to take urgent action to help address traffic safety and congestion including:

(i)         resolving local pinch points limiting access to Victoria Road from the Balmain peninsula and Rozelle;

(ii)        improving traffic flow from Victoria Road onto the Anzac Bridge; and

(iii)      improving traffic flows along City West Link;

(D)      Council note that the petition has close to 3,000 signatures at the time of publication of this notice; and

(E)      Council agree to endorse the petition calling for urgent action to address traffic congestion issues relating to the Rozelle Interchange.

Carried unanimously.

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