Council Refuses Current Richmond Bridge Proposal
Hawkesbury City councillors have voiced their strong opposition to the NSW Government’s proposed Richmond Bridge duplication project, citing significant concerns about its potential adverse effects on local communities and the Hawkesbury River floodplain.
During a recent Council meeting, the councillors unanimously condemned the proposal, emphasizing that it fails to provide an acceptable level of flood immunity or sufficient traffic relief.
The councillors expressed critical views on several aspects of the proposal, including the positioning of the proposed second bridge, the plan for a four-lane structure with two-lane approaches that may create traffic bottlenecks, and the removal of roadside parking on Bells Line of Road at North Richmond.
Additionally, they highlighted concerns regarding the introduction of traffic lights at the intersection of Kurrajong Road, Yarramundi Lane, and Old Kurrajong Road instead of a flyover, as well as the lack of an upgrade to the Redbank Creek Bridge on Bells Line of Road.
Concerns were also raised regarding the state government’s failure to secure full funding for the project and their intention to reroute all bypass traffic down the existing Southee Road at Hobartville until funding is adequate. Councillors criticized plans to construct a bridge and elevated road sections without proper modeling of the potential flood impacts on nearby properties and the broader floodplain.
The proposed route, which follows Inalls Lane and Southee Road, faced opposition due to anticipated noise and traffic impacts on Hobartville residents, as well as the presence of numerous heritage items along Inalls Lane.
These include the culturally significant Macquarie-era landscape, a William Cox-built road, the original 1820 stock route, and state heritage-listed sites such as Mountain View, Hobartville Stud, and St Peter’s Church Group. The councillors requested that the government provide costings for alternative routes.
Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett, who moved the motion against the proposal, emphasized that these issues were prominently raised by residents during a community rally attended by nine councillors, local MPs, and representatives from Transport for NSW.
“This is a major exit route out of Sydney to the west, and it demands an adequately funded outcome to improve traffic congestion and enhance flood immunity,” Lyons-Buckett stated.
She continued, “We are confronted with a proposal that lacks the capacity for full delivery amidst numerous concerns. The community deserves better than a half-baked solution; we require a thoughtful and forward-looking approach.”
Mayor Les Sheather echoed the Council’s unanimous stance, urging community members to contribute their feedback. “We will strive for the best outcome as a Council. Community submissions are crucial. We cannot navigate this process alone, and your voices will make a significant impact,” Sheather remarked.
The Council’s submission, detailing these concerns, will be forwarded to Transport for NSW and relevant State and Federal Members, including The Hon Mark Banasiak MLC, Elizabeth Watson-Brown, and The Hon Peter Primrose MLC.
