Residents & Business call for an end to RTA plans

The Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre was filled on Monday night with residents and shop owners concerned and angered over the RTA’s plans to permanently remove all the parking spaces between Victoria Road and Red Lion Street Rozelle.

Of chief concern amongst business owners was that although many residents walk to their local shops there is a significant portion who drive or stop by on their way home from work. Without this trade and the decline in revenue several shop owners fear that the viability of their business and their ability to serve the local community would decline.

Leichhardt Acting Mayor, Michele McKenzie informed the community that council had won an injunction in court halting works until January 8. At a protest rally on the corner of Victoria Rd and Darling street the next morning it was further announced that this had been extended until February 5th.

Many other options and causes of local traffic congestion were also discussed all of which could have helped better inform the RTA had they undertaken any meaningful consultation with the community. Several at the gathering express no surprise at the lack of consultation and pointed to the rest of the Victoria Road project and RTA’s arrogance in dealing with the public.

At the protest gathering the next morning one of the speakers was loudly cheered when he declared that ‘It was about time the RTA stopped treating the Inner West like an inconvenient speed bump on the road to somewhere else’.

Others wondered why the speed of traffic flow is continually subservient to the amenity of the local communities and streets.

A unanimous resolution was also passed calling for an immediate halt to works and for the RTA to consult with the community.

Local Member Verity Firth and the RTA were invited but were unable to attend.