The noise is deafening but Casula residents will have to wait
Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller
The Mayor of Liverpool Wendy Waller has written to the Minister requesting his assistance “in obtaining a funding allocation for the provision of noise attenuation to address the issue of rail traffic noise in Liverpool.” (Extract of letter to Anthony Albanese dated 11 February 2010).
Casula residents are facing noise levels considered dangerous to health, generated by an increased in freight traffic by the Australia Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) on track passing residents homes. The ARTC is contructing the new Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL) but despite a commitment to construct noise barriers along some of the track one of the most noise affected strips, Casula, will not receive barriers. Other residential areas will lower noise levels will, ironically, receive noise barriers as part of the ARTC build.
“The construction by the ARTC of the new SSFL will provide additional freight rail capacity and entrench and exacerbate the existing noise problem,” wrote Mayor Waller in her letter to Albanese.
Minister Albanese’s office confirmed to Streetcorner that no grant application has been submitted to the Minister in relation to Casula noise barriers along the Southern Sydney Freight Line. The ARTC is a corporation that is 100% owned by the Australian Federal Government.
Many local residents believed that following the December Liverpool City Council meeting that a grant application was being submitted under the $120 million Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program but careful reading of the Council motion makes clear that while Liverpool Council considered this route, they decided against this action and instead opted to submit the Whitlam Centre project and to contribute $500,000 towards this project from the 2010/2011 budget should the application be successful.
Casula residents spoke at the Council’s February meeting and thanked them for submitting an application to Minister Anthony Albanese and have been writing to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, asking for him to approve what they understood to be a grant application by Liverpool City Council.
At the December Council Meeting Liverpool City Council considered a report from Council Officers, in relation to a proposed grant under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program. Under this scheme “funding is available to Council on a competitive basis under the Federal Governments Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.Funding is available for projects over $1M which are ready to proceed within six months. Preference is to be given to projects that demonstrate community benefit and partnership funding is required.”
Council stated that under the eligiliblity criteria Liverpool Council is able to submit two applications but can only submit two applications if one of those applications is a group on behalf of a group of Councils. Therefore only one project soley within the Liverpool Council area was able to be submitted.
Liverpool City Council chose to submit the Whitlam Centre - Sustainability Refit stating that it would have “significant long term financial benefits due to reduced power and water consumption,” for Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program not the Noise Barriers project after assessing both.
Separately, Liverpool Council then recommended an independent funding application be made for the provision of Noise Barriers at Casula.
Liverpool Council Recommendation 14/12/09 “Submit a separate funding application to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for the provision of Noise Walls at Casula, subject to a commitment from the State Government for Railcorp to construct the noise walls, should the application be successful.”
This process is partially underway, with the Mayor having written to Anthony Albanese asking for his support and outlining the funding that Council wishes to seek but it is understood that no formal application for funds has been made at this stage.
Streetcorner has written to the Anthony Albanese asking whether the Mayor of Liverpool has received a response to her letter of the 11 February 2010 asking for “assistance in obtaining a funding allocation” and to clarify what the process would need to follow should the Minister agree to the Council’s request to assist Council “in brokering a financial and common sense solution to the issue of noise generated by rail freight traffic.”
Given the noise attenuation works are estimated to cost in the region of $5.1 million, a detailed and formal application would presumably need to be made by Council at some stage, if the Minister indicates his in principle support. All this points to residents being a long way off from knowing whether they will ever get any relief from the ear splitting noise along the Casula rail track.
Comments
Signe Westerberg posts
Thank you Street corner for continuing to pursue this issue. A letter of request for funding was sent to Minister Albanese, it was not in the form of a ‘regular grant application” as there was no specific form to do so. This Noise Walls Grant application did not fit the criteria for the “Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program’ instead the council wrote to the minister with a ‘special request for grant funding’ for the purpose of providing Noise walls at Casula. Our letters and emails of support have not been for nothing as the Special Request has not yet been answered. Our hope is now with all the extra attention, from both Street corner and the residents the Minister sees fit to consider the Council application favourably and soon. This matter has gone on for too long now.
Another sleep deprived resident posts
Firstly I would like to thank streetcorner , local residents, and those Liverpool councillors who are working hard to ensure Liverpool and Casula residents are not forgotten in ARTC s flawed and belligerent freight line construction. Yes I am another resident whose quality of life is being whittled away. Piece by piece. I know exactly when the freight trains are running. Sometimes it’s just the glass rattling in the windows up to a minute before you can see a train, sometimes it’s just the house shaking so much it feels like a mini ‘quake. Often though, it is the horrendous noise that can even through closed doors and windows , drown out a teenager on an xbox or a movie depicting full battle. Along with a wonderful group of people I have been to local meetings, I have met with our elected politicians, I have stood on Liverpool streetcorners with my children and collected signatures, I have attended council meetings, I have sent emails to Mayor Wendy Waller, I have emailed Federal and State members. What exactly does a law abiding resident have to do to get some peace and social justice? The noise barriers are a non question, they should have just been included in the initial planning. Liverpool Council get together for your residents now. Enough has been said. Do what you are supposed to do, and get it done.
Jess posts
I don't want to be negative but it sounds like you are getting the royal run around. Surely the Mayor has heard back from the Albanese by now. No news is not good news, it is usually bad news and the pollies will run for the hills.
Signe Westerberg posts
Jess, I rand council today, to date there hasn't been a response however with all the calls the Ministers office has received from Street corner this week, they are certainly aware. Fingers crossed he responds soon & positively
Signe Westerberg posts
rang... telephoned... can spell can't type ...sorry
DaraB posts
How about we get a comment from one of our councillors that represent us. Southward where are you? Everyone reads this (streetcorner) both councillors and residents alike. Now is the time to comment councillors. Has council done a proper job or a half.. job in this matter. I have the local newspapers ringing me like crazy for comments regards to the councils M5 submission also. And I presume if council did a great job the newspaper wouldn't be calling me.
Clr Tony Hadchiti posts
Dara, haven't gone anywhere. As you may have seen recently in a street corner report, I am doing all possible to ensure that the ARTC are given a hard time in moving forward with this project. As for how this whole grant has/is being handled I can assure you that you will have answers and the correct ones at that. What next. As it seems like nobody is listening and it is taking an eternity to get responses from the Feds, lets make sure we are heard and organise a convoy down to Canberra when Parliament is sitting and protest, protest, and keep protesting till we get heard and have answers. It is an election year so it's time to ensure that both sides of politics are aware of the issue and ensure they are aware that this issue is not going to go away as the noise walls are justified and needed.
Jim McGoldrick posts
Councillors are always concerned about getting half answers from halfwitz. The correct questions must be asked to get the truth. The only people truly working for the Liverpool Community are a hand full of councillors. Tell me what you want to know and I will ask the questions for you.
sireen posts
Thank you Street corner for continuing to place pressure and follow this story. As a resident I would also like to thank Clr Tony Hadchiti for putting pressure on ARTC, it is noted and appreciated. The residents are desperate for a positive response on the grant, sooner than later! Because, put simply this community is suffering and continues to suffer as a result of no noiss walls, we are currently suffering from sleep depravation, tiredness, stress,deafness,lack of productivity (at work, school, home etc) and depression... these are serious conditions that have long term impact and can be life threatening. How much longer can a community live with such terrible noise conditions? Jim McGoldrick I welcome your positive response and note that all this community simple wants to know " when will we get an answer on the government grant to build noise barriers" and secondly what is council going to do to continue to put pressure on ARTC, the feds and state to get noise barriers for this community soon! We can not live in such conditions, this is an URGENT matter, residents are not living a normal live- we are not sleeping, we need your help urgently, the impact on human life is going to be tragic. Residents are happy to work with council to get noise barriers just tell us what we can do. I invite any one who disagrees with me to come sleep at my house for one night and see the noise levels that we are subjected to every single day 95+ decibels!! Help is needed urgently. Thank you again to streetcorner, Councillors who have supported our plight.
sireen posts
Thank you Street corner for continuing to place pressure and follow this story. As a resident I would also like to thank Clr Tony Hadchiti for putting pressure on ARTC, it is noted and appreciated. The residents are desperate for a positive response on the grant, sooner than later! Because, put simply this community is suffering and continues to suffer as a result of no noiss walls, we are currently suffering from sleep depravation, tiredness, stress,deafness,lack of productivity (at work, school, home etc) and depression... these are serious conditions that have long term impact and can be life threatening. How much longer can a community live with such terrible noise conditions? Jim McGoldrick I welcome your positive response and note that all this community simple wants to know " when will we get an answer on the government grant to build noise barriers" and secondly what is council going to do to continue to put pressure on ARTC, the feds and state to get noise barriers for this community soon! We can not live in such conditions, this is an URGENT matter, residents are not living a normal live- we are not sleeping, we need your help urgently, the impact on human life is going to be tragic. Residents are happy to work with council to get noise barriers just tell us what we can do. I invite any one who disagrees with me to come sleep at my house for one night and see the noise levels that we are subjected to every single day 95+ decibels!! Help is needed urgently. Thank you again to streetcorner, Councillors who have supported our plight.
stefant posts
Thank you to streetcorner for your continuing support and reporting on this issue and also our councillors who are also supporting this issue. This is ridiculous how we have to keep fighting for what SHOULD be done, we are not living in a third world country but it sure does feel like it. We have a federal government that has done nothing but blow billions of our tax payer dollars on stupid schemes like the Insulation Installation rort and currently the Building Education Revolution. With no research and procedures in place they have just thrown our money away. The same can be said for this ARTC freight line, just do a google search of the land we need and make up some bulls@#t regulations, give out brown paper bags to all those concerned and build a half assed rail line with no thought for residents health and wellbeing. Voters of Australia and NSW will be doing there talking with their votes come election time.
DaraB posts
Thankyou councillor Hadchitti and Councillor McGoddrick. Actually I got to say I am quite impressed that you both heeded to the call of the residents and didn't cower away. I myself was expecting we need to check with our legal team should we answer your question. The fact councillor Hadchitti that you stated lets call on a protest shows also that if need be you will call on a protest if I was to protest I would protest how Liverpool is treated as a whole. I am a bit tired of Politics in this...lets go back to logic.
DaraB posts
I have just been woken up by a screacher at 2am I live 3 blocks away from the line with housing as my barrier. Lying in bed to my dismay another screacher at 3am. At present from 2-3am it is 0decibals. What residents say the frequency is going to be greater and every 10-15 minutes so it means from 0 decibals at 2.15am it will reach 93. AT 2.30 it will reach 93 due to ARTC freight at 2.45 it will not be at zero which it is at present but 93 all to the current 3 am screacher. How is that not an increase by ARTC trains. I am living with zero decibals from 2-3am now I will be living with 95 decibals in that time increment. DECC did not account for the frequency nor did the Dept of Planning in its consent. ARUP commissioned by council did but it got ignored. Last page states night time noise. Night time noise is going to increase due to ARTC freightline. Hence my argument is and has always been due to the increase in freight frequency of freight movement at night and the fact that incremental noise that was once at zero and now reaching 95 noise barriers should have been factored into the equation from the start
DaraB posts
In a yrs time once the DECC does testing. How are they going to account for the freight train that reaches 93 decibals at 2.15 am which is not currently present. Please get an answer from DECC and Dept of Planning. If need be get ARUP back not the same people ARTC commissioned Wilkonson and Murray and get Cl Napolitano to look at the legalities. Have we got a point. Again thankyou!! and we have all the documentation cds DECC guidelines just incase they want to pull another shifty to suit. And give us an answer to this. We have been asking for yrs.
DaraB posts
I hope you got the gist its not grammatical but what do you expect at 4am in the morning. Now its so so so quiet but thankyou for reminding me that this will not be the case due to ARTC freight in 2yrs time once the line is operational.I will be woken by a screacher at 4am not peace as it is now. With that I bid you good morning and a quiet and restful Anzac day. Hope it sinks in to somebody.
Leah Cain posts
I have read all the posts to this site and I agree with the writers that night time rest is often disturbed by "scre-ee-eching" freights travelling through plus the freight with the "flat tyre" that bumps and grinds along the same line.
Leah Cain posts
Mr. Albanese does not reply to correspondence as I wrote 3-4 mths ago - still awaiting a reply. Same said about other Ministers - ignoring the plights of the residents of this area.
Casula resident posts
A big thank you to Mal from Streetcorner for continuing our fight for noise barriers. Thank you to Clrs McGoldrick and Hadchiti for your present support. We want answers and responses from the Federal govt.level to L'pool Council level.All our emails,letters and presence at Labor Community Cabinet meetings have been in vain. No one wants to take responsibility nor action. Sleep deprivation is slowly killing us residents.
Casula resident posts
We, the residents do not want to lose our jobs due to sleep deprivation. One resident along Birkdale Cres. was sacked last Nov. due to her lack of concentration on the job. How can we be expected to perform at 100% when our sleep is interrupted each night.
Casula resident posts
Councillor Hadchiti and McGoldrick, we want to know what L'pool Council is doing to help us residents get these noise barriers.Albanese keeps visiting L'pool but none of the Casula residents have been invited to have a meeting with him re- barriers. If we had a very supportive Mayor and Council, that should have been a priority on their agenda on the many visits he has made.L'pool seems more interested in SHOW and TELL activities rather than addressing the health and environmental needs of all their residents.Why has no one placed pressure on Albanese to do the moral thing for the Casual residents?
Terry Holt posts
The Federal Government owns 100% of ARTC therefore the Australian people own ARTC , as a share holder I want to know how theARTC believes it is being a good community citizen by NOT installing noise barriers , now they know how badly people are suffering? Mr Albanese if you told ARTC to build them as a 100 % shareholder they would. Liverpool Council hasn't submitted a grant so we're told now but all three levels of Government know Casula residents need barriers. So act now. David Campbell how can you waste $500 million on the city metro and not have a thing to show for it, and on the other hand not spend $5 million to build noise barriers for us? This mess stinks
JudiS posts
Mal, thank you and Streetcorner for continuing to support us. Thank you also to those Liverpool councillors who have backed us, and if it means going to Canberra to protest I'll be there in a heartbeat. Are the State and Federal govts handballing this again??? Mr Albanese and Mr Campbell need to take equal responsibility for this and DO IT NOW. We are sick, we are deathly tired, does someone have to DIE before our politicians take notice. I have been listening to freight trains thunder past all night, I don't know if this was a particularly busy night but this cannot continue. Our health and quality of life is being eroded by this constant noise and it could be remedied by a small (in the scheme of govt spending) amount of funding. Mr Albanese and Mr Campbell, no more passing the buck, PLEASE FIX THIS NOW.
john anderson posts
There has been much publicity received about the waste and excess associated with the Stimulus packages a small portion of that money would paid for the noise barriers with all this money spread around it would have only required some commonsense from the relevant managers to allocate some to the residents of Liverpool and Casula.There should be no further talk but money allocated to address this injustice for local residents John Anderson 0409368603
Glen Butterfield posts
I was surprised to learn that a funding application has not yet been submitted. I suppose you should never assume these things. At least a letter has been sent to Mr Albanese and it would be nice if it didn't take too long to hear the outcome.
Resident posts
Have we been deceived by Liverpool Council. Did not the Mayor at a Coucil meeting last December tell a packed gallery that Council had submitted a request to Infrastructure Australia? I was led to belive that LCC had requested to the Federal Gov for assistance under the regular grant application scheme. Now I am to beleive that it was only a personal request for assistance to Mr Albanese.So who is telling the Truth?. Please Mr McGoldrick tell us the TRUTH
rashnal posts
the squeaky wheel will get the grease.
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