It has taken nearly four weeks of the campaign for it to happen, but plans for an intermodal terminal in South West Sydney have finally become an issue in the 2016 federal election.
Two local Labor candidates say residents in the federal electorates of Fowler and Werriwa are rightly concerned about the granting of final planning approval for construction of the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal, without adequate weight being given to their concerns.
Federal Member for Fowler, Chris Hayes MP, and Labor candidate for Werriwa, Anne Stanley, say they are both still waiting to see the details and conditions that will be placed on the Intermodal Terminal.
“Given the history and significance of this project, the community is entitled to an independent review of all the impacts of the Intermodal Terminal,’’ Mr Hayes said.
“So far we have heard little from the government and the proponents of the project as to how they intend to address the inevitable challenges to local infrastructure.’’
Ms Stanley said: “This development must ensure that noise, congestion and other adverse impacts on neighbours is minimised, and we will hold the Terminal to account in this regard,” Ms Stanley said.
“People are entitled to question the commitment of local Liberals, including Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun, who is now the Liberal candidate for Werriwa – when their own party and their government has been driving the Intermodal,” Mr Hayes added.
“We believe there is a need for more stringent conditions to be placed on the Intermodal, particularly in regards to protecting the local community,” Ms Stanley said.
They said that a Shorten Labor Government will ensure the Moorebank Intermodal Company to require that the developer/operator annually audit efforts at managing impacts and to identify and implement cost-effective improvements.
Labor will also require that the Moorebank Intermodal Company facilitate a permanent community consultation mechanism that will regularly meet to monitor and address neighbours’ concerns.
