President Avenue, Kogarah, will become a “dumping ground” for traffic from the first stage of the F6 motorway, a residents’ committee says.
The Moorefield Estate F6 Committee hit out at the “complete absence of consultation” over the proposed four kilometre twin tunnels, starting at the WestConnex junction at Arncliffe.
A public meeting in June this year formed the committee to represent their concerns about the compulsory acquisition of homes, siting of exhaust stacks and loss of public open space.
“Residents surrounding President Avenue are alarmed at the prospect of large volumes of traffic entering and leaving tunnels only a stone’s throw from their home,” committee member Anne Field said.
“Roads and Maritime Service figures indicate 2000 vehicle a day will be entering from, or dispersing to, Rocky Point Road, General Holmes Drive, and nearby suburban streets, adding to further chaos on our roads.
“Residents purchasing a home on or near President Avenue would have been aware of the road reservation, but understandably they did not expect the motorway to be built in stages, with thousands of extra vehicles dumped at their front gate.”
Ms Field said no location had been given for the F6-President Avenue interchange.
“Residents, having been left to speculate, are becoming anxious,” she said.
Committee member Bob Greenhill said, “It is believed we will lose some or all of the sporting fields at the corner of West Botany Street and President Avenue”.
“Anyone living in St George, or visiting our area to play weekend sport, knows that we need more playing fields, not less,” he said.
“And, if rezoning of the land adjacent to the road reservation allows higher density, it defeats the purpose of constructing a tunnel to save already-crowded open space and alleviate traffic congestion.”
Committee member John Paxon said leaked information in June this year indicated exhaust stacks could be located in Bermill Street Rockdale, and Civic Avenue Kogarah.
“Residents are rightly concerned about the health implications if there is no commitment from the government to filter the exhaust pollution from the tunne,” he said.
“We are keenly aware of the long campaign waged by residents near Bardwell Valley after construction of the M5 East tunnel.
“Vehicle exhaust emissions are dangerous to people with pre-existing health conditions.”
Mr Paxos said the area would also be “blighted “ by the visual impact of stacks.