Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE, Mr VINCENT
I ask this question on behalf of our Lyons MP, Tabatha Badger, and the community she works hard to represent. Minister, the proposed 24-hour truck fuel depot located at the main entrance to Longford has caused great community angst and opposition.
The Northern Midlands Council were right in unanimously rejecting the project on the merits of significant negative heritage, social and safety impacts on Longford and because there are numerous other suitable locations to put a fuel stock. The Longford community – and I am sure you have ascertained this, minister – will not back down until this proposal is shifted to another location.
Other towns are getting a bypass. Beautiful, historic Longford is getting more trucks. Minister, will you do the right thing and rescind the State Growth works access permit to Tannery Road or make sure that it is – which should never have been issued? And will you work with the proponent, the council and, most importantly, the community to assess other more sensible options?
ANSWER
Mr President, I will seek some advice.
There are a few different things there that I cannot comment on because it is a planning matter and that does not come under my ministry. I was able to visit the site last Thursday and have quite a while there just looking at the movements of vehicles in and out of Swift and Koppers logs and the amount of traffic coming around the corner there, so I am quite familiar with it now. There is some community concern, in relation to the development approved and granted for a fuel depot at Tannery Road(ok), regarding safety. It is mainly the turning in and off the road that is the issue. I am advised that the development was rejected by the council, against its own council office advice, last year. It recently received approval following an appeal by the developer to TASCAT, ultimately with the council’s consent.
I am advised that while some councillors attempted to blame the Department of State Growth for the approval of the development, this is not accurate. The department does not approve developments, and its role has been to approve works permits for works undertaken on the state‑owned roadways, to ensure safety. In this case, the department appreciated the original traffic impact assessment submitted as part of the development application, and the council had rejected the DA in its entirety against its own office’s advice and chose not to impose any conditions. Under the planning laws, the minister has no power to intervene, override or influence any decision of the council in its role as a planning authority or TASCAT.
I am aware that the former minister, Mr Ferguson, met on site with the mayor, general manager and the member for Lyons, Mr Shelton, as well as a senior departmental representative. I understand as a result of that meeting, the council will request the developer to consider the provisions of a dedicated right‑turn lane into the site, noting the community concern, but also noting that there are no permit conditions requiring this under the local planning scheme. The fact is, it has received approval without such conditions.
I am also aware the department is investigating the opportunity for localised widening of Tannery Road in this location. The design of any widening would need to be respectful of local concerns around the vegetation, as well as Australian road design rules. I think that is part of what you said about the heritage trees and plants along there. There is not a lot of room.
I am also aware that the meeting participants discussed a number of other community concerns about state roads around the Longford area. I am pleased to be advised that the Department of State Growth is funding an independent traffic engineering assessment of the intersection of Wellington and Marlborough streets, known locally as Sticky Beak Corner. It is a very good name again. There must be echidnas around there, are there?
I am also advised that constructive discussions occurred about the potential extension of a shared user pathway on the southern side of Illawarra Road, as well as works to rehabilitate the roundabout on that road as well.
