Safety risk stops rail apartments - 04.12.2004

The report, obtained by the Herald under freedom of information legislation, warns that the 40-year-old Hurstville Super Centre, which straddles the tracks, is an example of the problems that could be faced in the future. It says the centre is rundown and does not meet modern safety standards.

"The Hurstville Super Centre does not meet Railcorp standards in a number of respects, including support piers, transfer beams, clearance, centre-line clearance, column and pier stability, structural integrity, vibration and noise isolation and fire life safety," the report, by independent consultant Arnold Dix, says.

It also cites the recently demolished car park at Marrickville station as another operational and safety risk.

The Hurstville centre was bought two years ago by the developer Nati Stoliar of Kimberley Securities, who has also secured sites around several Sydney railway lines, including Burwood and Redfern. In the case of Hurstville, he unveiled plans for nine residential towers over the line.

These plans have been put on hold since Mr Stoliar was told of the new policy.

"We will have to look at other uses. It can be a fantastic shopping centre," he said yesterday. Mr Stoliar said he hadn't been given detailed reasons for the decision on Hurstville, and talks were continuing.

Another major development over the Chatswood rail corridor has been proposed by the Government Architect, Chris Johnson, as part of a masterplan to redevelop the station and create a green belt.

Apartment buildings have already been built over the lines at St Leonards and Bondi Junction. But the report, which is being used by Railcorp to develop a formal policy on the sale of air space rights, strongly counsels against building apartments directly over the line.

It says they should rather be built beside the Railcorp-owned station, which should then be integrated into the development.

It points to a number of subterranean accidents that demonstrated the sort of devastation that could occur.

Mr Dix was particularly concerned about apartments over freight lines because of the risk from hazardous cargoes such as chlorine gas and LPG. He also cited future high-speed trains as a risk, saying that a derailment could cause serious problems.

The report says that developers are often surprised at the cost of "possession" of a rail line. "History has shown us within NSW that, in such circumstances, developers will seek to have the rail-imposed requirements relaxed."

It cites the example of a prominent Sydney developer who fought to have vibration standards relaxed on his apartment building.

"Discussions with rail authorities in other countries - particularly the United States - indicate that developers are not only disappointed at the apparently inordinate costs of development over a railway, they become extremely agitated and feel compelled to raise the issues at political forums, and accuse rail authorities of sterilising good development land through outrageous expense and ill-conceived requirements."

By Anne Davies, State Political Editor SMH December 4, 2004