Footscray residents are heartened that Maribyrnong Council has spoken up on the serious health and welfare affects on Footscray of the Regional Rail Link project. Maribyrnong Council is a strong supporter of the project, but is keen to ensure that the Footscray community does not carry an unreasonable burden of negative impacts.
The following extract is from an article in The Leader newspaper, 'Call for Footscray Rail Noise Action', 21st June:
MARIBYRNONG Council hopes to push the Federal Government for national rail standards after being shocked by noise readings.
The council, and residents group Fair Go For Footscray Rail
Residents, say they are fed up with getting the runaround between
ministers and departments over the billion-dollar Regional Rail Link
project.
Mayor Sarah Carter, who viewed a damning Noise Analysis EPA report
on the project after being given a copy by the group, said she had
requested to be among the first to receive a copy of a more extensive
noise report and a briefing on its findings.
With letters to Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder and Planning
Minister Matthew Guy unanswered for more than five weeks, she is
planning to move a motion that the council call on Premier Ted Baillieu
to intervene.
“We’re looking to the State and Federal governments to ensure noise
abatement measures, as we’re worried those will come secondary because
of Budget black holes,” she said.
Cr Carter said that while she’d had briefings with the Regional Rail Link Authority, they did not address topical issues.
Travelling to Canberra for the Australian Local Government
Association conference on the weekend, Cr Carter hoped to have support
from the western councils to move an urgent motion to start work on
national rail standards. ...
