A gathering of residents in Scarborough Park, Kogarah, on Sunday revealed the depth of concern over plans for the F6 motorway extension.
Organisers letter boxed only the Moorefield Estate and adjoining streets about the event, but more than 150 people, and perhaps as many as 200 at the peak, turned up.
The meeting followed the revelation by Fairfax Media of internal government documents on the proposed route, property acquisitions and exhaust stacks.
Documents indicated, as late as the end of the last year, it was proposed the road be in a tunnel under the 60-year old reservation, which includes wetlands, parks and sporting fields.
The documents showed an exhaust stack being located near Civic Avenue, where Sunday’s gathering took place.
Small business owner John Paxos chaired the meeting, which heard from fellow organiser Anne Field and Rockdale MP Steve Kamper.
Angela, an environmental lawyer, also spoke, after which a question and answer session took place.
Ms Field, a former Rockdale and Kogarah councillor who has written a book on the history of the Moorefield Estate, was not surprised by the turnout.
The health impact of an exhaust stack is just one of the concerns.
- Anne Field
“People are naturally very anxious,” she said. “The health impact of an exhaust stack is just one of the concerns.”
Mr Kamper questioned why the traditional route was still being proposed when recent information indicated it was not suitable for road construction, either above ground or in a tunnel, because of the sandy conditions.
He said he had been told the route would be moved west and go under Rocky Point Road
“If the F6 corridor is unsuitable for tunnelling, then the government needs to remove the zoning affectation and give local residents certainty,” he said.
Mr Kamper’s comment about removing the zoning concerned independent filmmaker Sumi Skellam, whose film The Corridor examines the land along the road reservation.
Ms Skellam said later removing the road zoning for the corridor could place it at risk of development.
The meeting led to the formation of a committee to seek more information and to represent residents’ concerns.
Ms Field will co-ordinate the campaign, with support from Mr Paxos and retired barrister Bob Greenhill.
