Local residents are too busy protecting their families from the Covid-19 pandemic to worry about a planning policy for the Moorebank Intermodal, says John Anderson.
The president of RAID (Residents Against Intermodal Development) has hit out at the state government for pressing ahead with plans to put on exhibition the Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) for the proposed State environmental planning policy (SEPP) for Moorebank Intermodal facility.
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has written to RAID to inform them the exhibition will open on Monday, August 16, for six weeks.
“I recognise it has been a difficult time for South Western Sydney in the lockdown. Our primary consideration continues to be responding to and supporting the health and community needs of that area, and Greater Sydney in general,’’ said the department in the letter to RAID.
“However, we also recognise that the proposed measures in the EIE will ultimately assist in the State’s economic recovery from this pandemic, so we need to continue moving forward.’’
Mr Anderson, a Wattle Grove resident who has been leading the fight against the intermodal for 13 years, says local people have better things to do than prepare submissions to an exhibition of a planning proposal.
He has written to the department to express “enormous reservation’’ about the exhibition going ahead during a lockdown.
“At a time where we’re having a lockdown it is not appropriate,’’ he said.
“The government is asking residents to test themselves and get vaccinated.
“I request that the matter be deferred to a more appropriate time.
“I doubt many residents would bother getting involved as most families are dealing with the challenges of protecting themselves, and the last thing on their mind would be to make submissions on the Moorebank Intermodal facility.’’
