Ashfield Council online petition forces strong WestConnex motions.

A targeted change.org petition was run in the 6 hours leading up to the council meeting. Recognising that the proposed motions were weaker than those passed in the City of Sydney, Leichhardt and Marrickville, some stronger demands were made. As a result of the petition, items 2 & 3 were inserted and they were passed by the majority. All the Liberal councillors voted against.


MAYORAL MINUTES IMPACT OF WESTCONNEX ON THE ASHFIELD COMMUNITY. MM26/2015

Mr Chris Elenor addressed the meeting, commencing at 7.49pm and concluding at 7.55pm.

Councillors Passas and Raciti returned to the meeting at 8.00pm. Councillor Passas left the meeting, the time being 8.02pm. Councillor Cassidy PSM left the meeting, the time being 8.07pm and returned at 8.10pm.

RESOLVED: McKenna OAM

1. Ashfield Council does not support the WestConnex project as a solution to the traffic on Parramatta Rd.

2. Council calls for an immediate halt to tenders, acquisition and construction until the full WestConnex business case is released.

3. Council calls for a parliamentary inquiry into WestConnex.

4. Ashfield Council supports a significant increase to public transport for western Sydney and the establishment of major park and ride hubs.

5. Council display appropriately worded banners opposing WestConnex highlighting the inappropriate placement of the unfiltered emissions stacks.

6. Council consider distributing corflute posters opposing unfiltered stacks and lack of transport for western Sydney to homeowners on certain streets for display on fences.

7. Council engage a consultant to advise on world’s best practice filtration systems for underground tunnels.

8. Council write to the Premier requesting that;

• The consultation period for the Environmental Impact Statement be extended to 60 days.
• Inform Ashfield Council how you intend to mitigate the ‘knock-on’ effect of the increased traffic in suburban streets and Frederick St.
• Request fairness, courtesy and respect towards the local residents who are required to surrender their homes and businesses to your project. The property owners and renters have been given very short time frames with little consideration of the impact on their lives and the availability of housing stock for purchase or rent in this area. The many business owners will not be able to purchase/rent suitable sites nearby and may be forced out of business or try to establish in another area.
• That the work-site areas marked on the maps as grey “future land use to be determined” be returned to Ashfield Council in 2019 for open space with a significant contribution towards an indoor sports stadium.
• Council provide an information session for residents whose properties and businesses are to be compulsorily acquired. 

9. North south bike, walking and green corridor pedestrian connections be completed as a priority for the Greenway and Iron Cove Creek/Dobroyd Canal link from Ashfield Aquatic Centre to Iron Cove.

Items 1 and items 4-9 were voted on separately. A division was called and the voting was as follows:- For the Motion Councillors Stott, Wangmann, Cassidy PSM, Mansour, Wang, Lofts, Drury, A Raiola, M Raiola, Raciti and McKenna OAM. Against the Motion Nil.

Items 2 and 3 were voted on separately A division was called and the voting was as follows:- For the Motion Councillors Stott, Wangmann, Cassidy PSM, Mansour, Wang, Lofts, Drury and McKenna OAM. Against the Motion Councillors A Raiola, M Raiola and Raciti

FINANCIAL IMPACT OF WESTCONNEX ON NSW COMMUNITIES. MM27/2015

RESOLVED: McKenna OAM

That Ashfield Council calls on the Baird Government to be fiscally prudent in how they manage this project. Specifically, they should make commitments not to:

• Sign taxpayers up to open-ended financial commitments to underwrite WestConnex including ‘patronage risk’ – it should stand on its own feet without burdening future generations of taxpayers to unknown subsidies 
• agree to ‘right to compete’ clauses that prevent the future development of public transport along the routes of WestConnex 
• extend the concession period for the private operator beyond 30 years 
• Increase tolls over the concession period or on other motorways to pay for WestConnex. 
• As Stage 3 is contingent on the revenue from tolls, how will the project be financed if the revenue from tolls is not realised? 

A division was called and the voting was as follows:- For the Motion Councillors Stott, Wangmann, Cassidy PSM, Mansour, Wang, Lofts, Drury and McKenna OAM. Against the Motion Councillors A Raiola, M Raiola and Raciti.