Banks MP David Coleman is asking the public to have a say on the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the first WestConnex project to be constructed on the M5 East corridor.
Mr Coleman said community consultation on the EIS for the King Georges Road interchange upgrade was a key milestone for easing congestion on the M5.
‘‘The EIS shows the interchange upgrade will improve travel times there by up to 49 per cent when WestConnex is completed,’’ Mr Coleman said.
‘‘The 100,000 motorists who use the M5 corridor each day know how essential it is that we begin this project as soon as possible to provide an additional lane in each direction at the interchange.
‘‘We have fast-tracked this project by 18 months thanks to a $2 billion concessional loan to the state government.’’
He said that the WestConnex was a ‘‘once-in-a-lifetime’’ infrastructure project and encouraged residents to have their say on the plan.
The project will include the increased capacity on all ramps including the eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp between King Georges Road and M5 East.
Eastbound traffic from King Georges Road would not need to merge once the stage two tunnels were open to St Peters.
Community information sessions on the EIS will be held 9am-noon, on Saturday, November 1, at Regina Coeli Church Hall, 70 Ponyara Road, Beverly Hills, and 3pm-7pm on Monday, November 10, at Beverly Hills North Public School, 1-3 Shorter Avenue, Beverly Hills.
Formal written submissions can be submitted with project number SSI 14_6547 to the Department of Planning and Environment, GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001 or submitted online at www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au by Friday, November 21.
More details: www.westconnex.com.au
