Inner West Council will make urgent submissions to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to amend a proposed traffic plan for St Peters.
TfNSW plans to reduce traffic lanes, build separated cycleways, add wider crossings and new walking links from Princes Highway to St Peters Station, King Street and Sydney Park as part of the new Sydney Park Junction.
Council will urgently write to TfNSW requesting the proposed traffic plan for May Street St Peters and the St Peters Triangle, including Hutchinson Street, Lackey Street and Applebee Street St Peters, be amended.
TfNSW recently consulted on the traffic plan. However, Council will say that the concerns of residents have not been addressed and further engagement needs to be undertaken.
“Last week, Council and some residents of St Peters were told that, despite residents wishes, TfNSW will remove the right hand turn from the Princes Highway into May Street St Peters, and remove the right hand turn from May Street St Peters onto the Princes Highway,” Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous said.
“Residents who have lived in the area for many decades all say there will be serious access issues into Hutchinson, Lackey and Applebee streets if the right hand turn from the Princes Highway into May Street is removed.
“And we also note that should this access into the St Peters triangle be restricted, emergency services will be severely impeded, and this could actually be life threatening for anyone living in the area,” Mayor Porteous said.
“While many residents agree with the view that reducing the number of cars on the road is a good thing, this plan cannot be reconciled with the fact that our residents do actually need access to their cars.
“We are calling on TfNSW to further consult directly with residents of May, Hutchinson, Lackey and Applebee streets about traffic access, pedestrian crossings and parking.
“And that this consultation be on site, in person, and on the weekend so as to allow maximum community involvement,” Mayor Porteous said.
Other concerns in relation to the proposed traffic plan include:
• Should an accident block the Princes Highway south of May Street, access to Sydenham, Tempe and St Peters could be seriously compromised
• The planned restriction of traffic entering and leaving May Street would likely cause an increase in traffic on Lord and Alice Streets Newtown, Railway Road Sydenham and Campbell Street St Peters
