NSW Government Planning and Consultation
The community has been attempting to work with the NSW government and planners on the project since it was announced in 2017. We have provided extensive feedback, urged consideration of public transport options, and developed alternate plans designed by experts, but the community’s concerns have been ignored.
A recent parliamentary inquiry into the planning of WestConnex found that the government had “failed to adequately consider alternative options” and had “weakened the accountability and disclosure rules” resulting in limited transparency to the public(1). Unfortunately, our community is seeing similar processes occurring in the planning for the Beaches Link Tunnel.
Critical problems with planning, severe delays and cost blow-outs are a feature of many other road projects under construction by the current NSW government. Just a few examples include:
- WestConnex – lack of transparency and business case, cost blow-outs and delays hidden by the government(2). Changes to the project without planning or consultation, and severe impacts to local residents being dismissed as problems for the contractors(3).
- NorthConnex – the project chief quits amid delays and cost blow-outs(4).
- Road upgrades to Warringah Road near Northern Beaches Hospital – over a year’s delay, the local MP deflecting blame for the government’s responsibility(5) and law suits from affected businesses(6).
- Even a simple footpath and wall at the end of Dudley St, Balgowlah has proved impossible to build – with switching contractors, cost blow-outs and a planned timing of 6 weeks construction in September – it has only recently been completed 28 weeks later.
