Vol IV - Chapter X

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X  RECOMMENDATIONS

1. THE BOTANY GOODS LINE

It was suggested that the Botany Goods Line should
used for a passenger rail service.

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry is not in a
                position to recommend the
                use of the goods line as
                a passenger service.

2. THE BEXLEY ROAD OPTION

2.1 Bexley Road Option

The Bexley Road Option was put forward as a link
between the Central Industrial Area and the Western
or South-Western Regions of Sydney.

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry recommends
                against the adoption of
                this option.

2.2 The Bestic Street/Villiers Street Sub-Option

A route using Bestic Street and Villiers Street,
Rockdale was proposed as an alternative to a
corridor which exists in the Rockdale Planning
Scheme (Bay Street and Harrow Road, Rockdale).

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry recommends the
                exclusion of this sub-option
                from further consideration.
                Specifically it recommends
                against its inclusion as a
                transport corridor in any
                planning instrument.

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2.3 The Rockdale By-Pass Corridor

Having recommended against the Bexley Road Option,
the Inquiry is obliged to consider the retention of
the Rockdale by-pass corridor.

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry is not in a
                position to recommend the
                corridor's removal. There
                are strong arguments for its
                deletion. The Inquiry urges
                the Planning and Environment
                Commission and the Rockdale
                Council to re-consider the
                matter in the light of the
                findings made in this Report.

2.4 The Campsie By-Pass Corridor

Should the corridor be deleted in view of the rejection
of the Bexley Road Option?

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry is not in a
                position to recommend the
                deletion of the corridor.
                It urges a re-consideration
                of the matter in the light
                of this Report.

3. THE SOUTH-WESTERN OPTION

3.1 The South-Western Option

The South-Western Option was suggested as a link
between the Central Industrial Area (Port and Airport)
and the Western and South-Western Regions of Sydney.

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry recommends
                against the adoption of
                this option.

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3.2 Roadworks Within the Study Area

The evidence identified a number of specific problems
created by traffic within the Study Area. The Inquiry
has taken the view that the Options are rather less
efficient in dealing with these problems than
measures which are tailored to the needs of the
particular locations.

RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that rather than
                concentrate a huge sum on a
                large project within the Study
                Area, the following strategy
                should be adopted, since it is
                likely to yield far more striking
                and immediate benefits:

• spot improvements at specific
  locations identified as suffering
  congestion or loss of amenity
  (including intersection widening,
  right-hand turning bays, road
  widening and re-constructing
  shopping centres away from the
  main road).

• a concerted effort should be made
  to ensure that a road hierarchy
  can be introduced at the same time
  as SCAT (Co-ordinated Signals)
  comes into operation.

• a network of truck routes should
  be developed as part of that
  hierarchy, after consultation
  with local councils and trucking
  bodies.

3.3 If the South-Western Option is Adopted

It is appropriate that we consider a number of
alternatives:

RECOMMENDATION: If, contrary to our primary
                recommendation, the Government
                were to decide to construct the
                South-Western Option, we would
                suggest the road should include
                the following features:

• the southern alignment(terminating
  in General Holmes Drive, Kyeemagh)
  is unsatisfactory. It should not
  be pursued.

• The route should proceed to the
  north of the Airport. The precise
  alignment will require extensive
  study. Access to the port will
  obviously be important.

• The spur into Carrington Road,
  Marrickville should be abandoned.

• The spur along Riverview Road,
  Earlwood (as far as Macquarie Road,
  Earlwood) should be abandoned.

• There should be a pedestrian
  underpass at Turrella Station
  and not an overpass.

• The underpass must be constructed
  with care to ensure that visual
  contact is maintained from one
  side of the valley to the other.

• The route should follow the
  altered alignment depicted in
  Department of Main Roads maps
  (Reference p 409B (MI) Rolls 1
  and 2).

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• The possibility of further amending
  that alignment in order to ameliorate
  the environmental impact should be
  investigated, In particular, a
  lower standard of road, and one which
  takes advantage of the railway easement,
  should be considered.

• Consideration should be given to
  a pedestrian tunnel through the
  embankment in the section between
  Bexley Road and Kingsgrove Road,
  so that contact between one side
  of the valley and the other can be
  maintained.

• A tunnel at Coolangatta Road should
  be constructed. It should at least
  permit pedestrian access. Whether
  it is also desirable to maintain
  vehicular access should be investi-
  gated with the community, the local
  councils and the Beverly Hills Progress
  Association. Any other association
  which wishes to participate in that
  investigation should be encouraged
  to do so.

• The road should be constructed with
  a median.

• There should be a landscape plan.
  It should be the joint responsibility
  of the Department of Main Roads and
  the Department of Environment and
  Planning. Local councils (and community
  groups) should be consulted.

• The issue of equity has never been
  addressed. It should be. It
  requires a consideration of any
  particular hardship occasioned to

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residents through the completion of
the road. A number of measures may
be necessary including:

• earthberms

• noise insulation

• bridges and underpasses
  and pedestrian crossings

• the conversion of remnant
  areas of open space to
  parks and gardens.

3.4 The Retention of the South-Western Corridor

The enormous potential of the Wolli Creek Valley
has never been realised because of the corridor.

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry recommends the
                release of that section of
                the South-Western Corridor
                between the Princes Highway,
                Tempe and King Georges Road,
                Beverly Hills. The recommend-
                ation is subject to the land
                being returned to the public
                as open space. The land must
                not be used (either now or in
                the future) for residential,
                commercial or industrial
                development.

3.5 An Alternative View on the Corridor

It is appropriate that we should consider a number
alternatives:

RECOMMENDATION: 

1. If, contrary to our primary recommenda-
tion, the Government were to decide to
retain the South-Western Corridor, we
recommend that the boundary of the
corridor should be re-drawn, and should
not exceed the requirements of the

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altered alignment as depicted in
the Department of Main Roads plan,
reference P 409B (M1), Rolls 1 and 2.

2. Further that the corridor should be
released after the expiration of four
years if the scheme suggested by the
Inquiry for the transportation of
containers is adopted by the
Government, and is seen to work,
and if the Airport issue is resolved
in such a way that the case for the
road is made no more compelling.

3. In the meantime it is imperative that
work begin to develop the Wolli Creek
Valley for recreational purposes.
Money has already been made available
by Government for that purpose.
Consideration should be given to
allotting further money, having regard
to the enormous potential of the Valley,
and to the poverty of the surrounding
areas in open space.

4. THE COOKS RIVER OPTION

4.1 The Cooks River Option

The Cooks River Option was put forward as a link
between the Central Industrial Area and the Western
or South-Western Regions of Sydney.

RECOMMENDATION: The Inquiry recommends
                against the adoption of
                this option.

4.2 If the Cooks River Option is Adopted

It is appropriate that we consider a number of
alternatives:

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RECOMMENDATION: It, contrary to our primary
                recommendation, the Government
                were to decide to construct
                the Cooks River Option, we
                would suggest the road should
                include the following
                features:

• the road should not include the
  section between General Holmes Drive,
  Kyeemagh and the Wolli Creek. An
  alignment to the North of the Airport,
  providing access to the Port, is
  preferable.

• the route should continue along the
  corridor reservation beyond the
  junction of Punchbowl Road and
  Coronation Parade, Strathfield to
  the Hume Highway.

• the route should be constructed
  as a four-lane arterial road from
  beginning to end.

• there are marked advantages in
  proceeding by way of a tunnel under
  the railway line at Campsie rather
  than by an overpass. The cost and
  feasibility of a tunnel should be
  further investigated.

• the maximum open space sub-option is
  preferable except in the vicinity of
  Mildura Reserve (Campsie) where the
  minimum space alignment is preferred.

• the concept of compensatory open
  space (to compensate the community
  for the open space taken by the road)
  should be adopted in respect of the
  Cooks River Option.

• it is desirable that houses in the
  Belfield and Campsie area, between
  the carriageway and the river,
  should, over a period, be acquired
  and converted to open space.

• there should be a landscape plan
  covering the whole of the foreshore
  of the Cooks River. It should not
  simply relate to that part which may
  be disturbed when constructing the
  road. The plan should be the joint
  responsibility of the Department
  of Main Roads, the Planning and
  Environment Commission, Local Councils,
  and interested community bodies and
  groups.

• the issue of equity was never addressed.
  It should be. It requires consideration
  of any particular hardship occasioned to
  residents through the construction. A
  number of things may be necessary
  including:

• earthberms

• noise insulation

• fencing of open space to
  prevent accidents

• restoration of the natural
  bank of the river (or some-
  thing better than sheet
  piling or concrete lining)

• bridges and underpasses and
  pedestrian crossings

• the conversion of remnant
  areas of open space to
  parks and gardens.

4.3 The Retention of the Cooks River Corridor

The enormous potential of the Cooks River Valley
has never been realised because of the corridor.

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