BCCT Letter to NDT ref NWRL

Dear Scott,

Thank you for the email and opportunity to provide you with the BCCT position on this issue

Public transport infrastructure is a necessity and should be a priority to reduce the car dependency of our ever increasing population in Sydney.

While the recent State Government announcements are positive, the BCCT would have welcomed a closer examination of the report by Sinclair Knight Merz prepared for Parramatta Council. We believe this is a forward thinking model that should be seriously considered.

It takes a polycentric approach which encompasses Sydney's future employment centres at Parramatta, Norwest and MacQuarie Park. This proposed rail link builds off the Epping to Parramatta Link and connects Parramatta to Rouse Hill via stations at Northmead, Winston Hills, Castle Hill, Norwest and Kellyville.

The proposed link will provide more desirable travel to commuters from the Hills. Even today 9000 Hills district residents work in Parramatta as compared to 8000 in the CBD.

Other positives for this option would be that it would negate the requirements of a second harbour crossing which has been estimated this year as costing $8b.

It is interesting that the NSW Government have appointed Nick Greiner to head up Infrastructure NSW and appear not to have waited for that organisation to be set up before making a decision on what will be the most important Infrastructure projects to be built in the next twenty years.

I hope that consideration will be afforded to do a side by side assessment of the two available options.

Regards

Michael Stove

President

Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust

North West Rail Link - Update

An extensive article in the Telegraph on 27 May started with:
The state government is planning a new-look route for the $7 billion North West Rail Link - with additional train stations and an extension beyond Rouse Hill. Although the project remains a priority, it will also be "developed in parallel" with the federal government's $2.1 billion Parramatta to Epping line, according to new tender documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

The alignment of the North West Rail Link - drawn up by the Coalition since taking the project to voters at this year's state election - reveals six new stations over a 23km route from Epping to Rouse Hill, with mega-carparks for more than 3000 commuters.

Beecroft Cherrybrook Junior Rugby Club

The Beecroft Cherrybrook Junior Rugby Club is seeking sponsorship for their annual rugby tour.  This year the equivalent New Zealand club will be touring our area, and in June/July next year the BCJRC will be sending forty Under 10 and 11 players to North Island of New Zealand.
One way to sponsor this tour is to attend a Gala Dinner at the Castle Hill RSL club, Friday 12 August.  If interested, please email Mick Dalton, or the Tour Organising Committee, at mick@daltonselectrical.com.au.

M2 Access to Chilworth Reserve

The Trust wrote to the M2 expressing concerns about limited access under the M2 through the Chilworth Reserve construction camp, and specifically expressing concerns about the crossing over the river on the diverted foot path.

The response includes:
"Regarding access, we have discussed the matter with the construction team who have confirmed that construction activities in this area are about to expand and it will be extremely busy with plant, machinery and construction works, hence being unsafe for pedestrian access. We will endeavour to reopen the access whenever it is deemed safe to do so, however at this stage we have to maintain the current access route/path nominated."

The Trust will keep trying to improve access on this right of way for residents of the area.  Note that recently the access path has been closed on some Saturday mornings as well as all weekdays.

Off Leash Dog Parks - Ryde Council's Trial Reports 7 June

A six month trial of dog off-leash areas across the City Of Ryde commenced on 27 October 2010.  That trial has now concluded. Council staff have begun assessing all submissions received from the community and the outcomes of the trial will be reported to Council on 7 June 2011.

In the interim, the current trial conditions for all parks included in the trial will continue until Council has made a decision on the future use of the park as an off leash exercise area for dogs.

For further enquiries please contact the Open Space Team on telephone 9952 8222.

Beecroft - Cheltenham Link Track Walk 19 June

STEP, a community based environmental conservation group, is organising a walk along the Link Track.  Start at 9:45 at the western end of Mary Street Beecroft.  This will be a 4km, 2 hour, walk through Chilworth and Castle Howard reserves.  Book by contacting Robert Bracht by email at robert.bracht@hotmail.com, or on 0422 088 305.

Dust Concerns with M2 Project Widening

Response by M2 Project:

Thank you for advising us of this matter.
 
Dust suppression is taken very seriously by the project team as we are conscious of impacts it can cause on the adjoining community but also our workers who spend up to 10 hours standing next to it on site. Some dust from the activities being undertaken is expected however we are taking measures to mitigate the dust impacts at the source. 

These measures include use of water carts to supply water to hand held hoses, gurneys or milling head attached water spray units during rock excavation works. The project also ensures that the workers are educated to identify dust impacts and how to modify the operations where possible to minimise impacts. Site staff also monitor wind speed and direction and stop work when excessive wind conditions prevail.  It should be noted that while it may appear that only one water cart is in a location, it is often the case that more than one water hose is attached to it and multiple machines can be watered down. In addition to the standard use of hoses and gurneys to create a spray mist to reduce dust, the Project Team have recently installed spray heads on the milling machines that grind the rock back.

At the end of a work shift the excavated material is contained in stockpiles and watered down. In addition to that our afterhours dust control strategy has two water carts on standby to spray exposed areas and their use is initiated when forecasts indicate the possibility of strong wind. We have installed 2 dedicated weather stations at either end of the project that help us initiate this strategy.  
 
While we have a responsibility to ensure a balance between the dust control measures and water runoff excessive spraying might cause dust suppression and any potential health effects are taken very seriously. Our community complaints and information line 1800 196 266 is available at all times construction work is being undertaken and we would strongly encourage residents to contact us on directly if they have any concerns relating to the project particularly those that might be causing health issues at the time they are occurring so we can address them.