RTA under fire over the M5  

Last month, Melanie Kembrey reported on the anger in Tempe over the M5. Tempe 2020, a group which is fighting the proposed road, says it could take recent, “subtle” changes to RTA’s communications as an encouraging sign that its campaign is gaining traction, but the lack of clarity is frustrating and the RTA’s consultation provides no consolation. Local Tempe resident and Tempe 2020 committee member Luke Cutler says: “The RTA’s taxpayer funded, $15 million feasibility study suggested expansion of the M5 Corridor was needed to service freight from Port Botany but we’ve noticed in the most recent media releases from both the RTA and the State Government they’ve now switched to saying it’s all about traffic between the airport and surrounding industrial areas. Since we’ve stated from the outset their preferred option doesn’t do anything for Port Botany, we’re not surprised they’re no longer saying it will. But such a dramatic change in their stated reasons for building the road in the first place sounds more like improvisation than actual planning and that’s got to be a worry to anyone who pays tax.”

Read Rita Mu’s report on the battle over the M5 in Alexandria.

Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project

Last month the Premier and Minister for Redfern-Waterloo announced the Waterloo Green Neighbourhood Project which is a three-year pilot aimed at creating a safe, secure environment and improving amenity for people living in the Waterloo Green high rises.

The project will introduce three new services, all employing social housing tenants. A daytime welcome, orientation and information service, together with an after-hours security service, will control access to the buildings 24 hours a day. A maintenance service, operated in partnership with maintenance contractor, Spotless and Fair Business, a not-for-profit organization, is the third new initiative.

Source: South Sydney Herald March 2010 www.southsydneyherald.com.au