The western boundary of Royal National Park, along the train line, could be “tweaked” to accommodate the F6 extension, says Cronulla MP and Attorney-General Mark Speakman
His comments came as two public meetings over the controversial project were being organised for Sunday, July 2.
A “rally for nature” will be held at Bundeena at 9am, while residents along the St George section of the proposed route will gather in Scarborough Park at Civic Avenue at 1.30pm (details below).
Mr Speakman and other Liberal MPs hit back after being accused by the National Parks Association (NPA) of “equivocation or silence” on the proposal in internal government documents to acquire 60 hectares of Royal National Park between Loftus and Waterfall for the road project.
NPA president Anne Reeves said their positions contrasted with that of state Opposition Leader Luke Foley, who promised a Labor government would not allow the F6 extension to run through Royal National Park.
Mr Speakman said Royal National Park was “a priceless natural asset which must be preserved for all future generations”.
“No decision has been made on any F6 route, but the F6 would never ‘carve through’ the Royal National Park, and it’s dishonest fear mongering to allege otherwise,” he said.
“The Carr Labor government made a number of changes to boundaries of other national parks to allow State road works.
“To suggest that you could never tweak part of the Royal National Park’s western boundary along the train line by using the old F6 corridor, if you could more than compensate for that by adding land elsewhere, isn’t common sense environmentalism.
“It’s ideological extremism by the NPA spokespeople, and it’s rank hypocrisy by Labor, which will never hide the fact it was the party that cancelled the F6 and still opposes any F6.
“There would be extensive public consultation and environmental studies before any decision was made on any F6 route.”
Heathcote MP Lee Evans said the $14.1 million allocated in the June 20 state budget was part of the previously announced $20 million for further geotechnical studies and planning.
“Recent media reports are completely premature and lacking in fact,” he said.
“The community can access all the up to date information on the RMS website under road projects Southern Sydney.
“A comprehensive public consultation will be carried out prior to any final announcement of the finalised route of the F6 (M1).”
Miranda MP Eleni Petinos said, “The hypocrisy of the Labor Party is astounding”.
“The existing F6 corridor was first set aside as part of the 1951 County of Cumberland Planning Scheme and was resurrected by the Labor Party in 2005 under Bob Carr.
“For them to now try to seize the moral high ground is laughable.”
Ms Petinos said no decision had been made on the alignment and further studies were needed to help inform design options.
F6 MEETINGS
- Sunday, July 2, 9am-10am in Bundeena Reserve, next to the RSL Club. Environmental groups, Labor spokeswoman on the environment Penny Sharpe and Greens MPs Mehreen Faruqi and David Shoebridge are due to attend.
- Sunday, July 2, 1.30pm in Scarborough Park, Civic Avenue, Ramsgate. A permithas been obtained from Bayside Council for a an information meeting . Rockdale MP Steve Kamper is due to attend.
