No Stabling Yards Macdonaldtown Residents Group – 15.12.2005

INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS – MACDONALDTOWN STABLES

Information in this document has been extracted from
documents available on request from the Transport Infrastructure Development
Corporation (TIDC)

FACTS

The Facility

  • The purpose
    of the development is to store 8 trains in order to decrease their travel time
    from outer suburbs;
  • The
    facility & generators will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
  • Trains will
    cleaned at the site and are required to test horns and brakes when departing
    the facility from 4am, which will mean 16 horns & brakes (2 sets per
    train);
  • Noise
    studies admit this will cause “awakening events”, even with the proposed “noise
    barriers in place” and no alternative solutions have been presented;
  • A
    significant increase (doubling) of the current ambient background noise in the
    local community is expected (contributed to by generators, train movements,
    train cleaning, additional traffic from staff traveling to the facility etc);
  • Lighting
    for the facility will also operate 24 hours a day, thereby increasing light
    pollution; and
  • There
    appears to be inadequate parking and potential noise breaches during staff
    shift changes at the facility.

Construction – impacts

  • There will
    be increased noise and traffic (including heavy vehicles) through residential
    streets during the 12 months of construction of the Facility;
  • This will
    include building an access road from the corner of Burren Street and Erskineville Road to (PARTIALLY)
    accommodate some of the heavy vehicles. 
    This will destroy the square outside the dry cleaners and the Thai
    restaurant;
  • Trucks will
    be turning into the access road across Erskineville Road, causing further
    traffic obstructions on an already very busy road; and
  • Heavy
    trucks will also still use Charles and Wilson Sts.

Consultation & Approval – Issues

  • Community
    consultation has been limited, with the onus on residents to pro-actively seek
    information;
  • The
    proposing body (TIDC) is the approving body. 
    There is no independent assessment;
  • Publicity
    information circulated by the TIDC does not indicate the facility will be a 24
    hour 7 day maintenance and testing facility;
  • Noise
    testing has only been performed at 3 locations and does not cover all affected
    areas; and
  • At the
    TIDC’s own admission, their internal assessments (using consultants) have lead
    them to the conclusion that a complete Environmental Impact Study is not
    required, therefore there has not, nor currently will there be one!

This type of industrial infrastructure development is highly
likely to have an impact on already diminishing property values, particularly
degradation of the residential amenity through increased noise and traffic
congestion.

Further info on the project:
http://www.tidc.nsw.gov.au/ArticlePage.aspx?PageID=210 

This group of concerned residents suggests 

  • We
    recognize that the state government’s need to “fix” the current train system;
  • We support
    a fully functioning public transport that is well integrated with the
    community’s needs;
  • We do NOT
    support, development without consultation of community stakeholders
  • We do
    believe the current proposal will significantly impact the environment of the
    local community and are seeking a full Environmental Impact Study by the TIDC;
  • We are
    seeking an extension to the objection dealing (currently 2/12/2005) as this is
    insufficient notice and corresponds to the holiday period when many families
    are not necessarily home to object and participate;
  • Disclosure
    of alternative sites considered – Eveleigh Railyards – and reasons for
    rejection;
  • Where no
    suitable alternative is available, comprehensive sound proofing, and aesthetic
    management of the Macdonaldtown facility

LOCAL CONTACT DETAILS

Community action group email:  no_stabling_yards@yahoo.com.au
Kym Grieve – 0416 269 554
Penny Austin – ph 0411 480 944
Gretchen Miller – ph: 
9519 2491

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

Director,
Planning and Environment – Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation

TIDC Locked bag 6501, St Leonards, 2065 mail@tidc.nsw.gov.au

Clover Moore, Mayor, City of Sydney, GPO Box 1591, Sydney
NSW 2001
clover@clovermoore.com

John Watkins, Minister for Transport,
Level 30 Governor Macquarie Tower,
1 Farrer Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 ryde@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Barry O’Farrell – Shadow Minister for Transport,
27 Redleaf Avenue,
WAHROONGA NSW 2076, barry.o’farrell@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Carmel
Tebbutt – Member for Marrickville

244 Illawarra
Road, MARRICKVILLE NSW 2204,
marrickville@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Sam Byrne – Mayor of Marrickville
9A Beauchamp
Street, MARRICKVILLE NSW 2204
sbyrne@marrickville.nsw.gov.au

Peter Debnam, Leader of the Opposition, NSW,
PO Box
960, BONDI JUNCTION NSW 2022 peter.debnam@parliament.nsw.gov.au

PLEASE PREPARE A LETTER AND SEND IT TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE,
INDIVIDUAL LETTERS ARE THE BEST
WAY TO INFLUENCE THIS PROPOSAL

THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOUR LIFESTYLE IN
NEWTOWN/ERSKINEVILLE