Willoughby Electorate Bus Route 263

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN (Willoughby) [6.46 p.m.]: I have mentioned on many occasions in this place that people in the Willoughby electorate are fortunate to live so close to the central business district of Sydney. However, a downside to that is the traffic volume in the Willoughby electorate. Clearly, public transport is an important issue. Over the past few weeks I undertook to raise the concerns of residents in north Cremorne about proposed changes to bus route 263, which is causing enormous angst for residents in that area. Residents have put together a petition, they have made various representations to the State Transit Authority [STA], and they have brought their concerns to my attention.

Tonight I shall place their concerns on the record. I state at the outset that they are concerned about proposed changes to bus route 263, which they argue are dangerous and impact on residential amenity. They are also concerned about the lack of public consultation, notwithstanding that the STA claims to have sent a survey to residents. A couple of residents said that they doorknocked about 150 people in the affected area and of that number only one person claimed to have received the STA survey, which the authority regarded as public consultation. I will now place some of those residents' concerns on the record. In her email to me one resident said:

We are concerned about proposed changes to STA bus route 263 which would result in buses going up and down the complete length of Benelong Road. Parking is currently a problem at the top end and the establishment of further bus stops will not help, especially in front of our building. Results will be increased fumes and pollution, noise, traffic, less parking for residents and associated problems. The change in the route after many years is not necessary.

We were only advised of these proposed changes last week—

the week preceding 26 August—

and any concerns are supposed to be submitted by this Friday 29th August.

Any action you may be able to take to avoid these changes would be appreciated.

Another resident states:

The proposed changes are downright dangerous. To have a bus travel down Benelong Road from Gerard Street is putting the community at risk. There are already two high crash zones on Benelong Road from adjoining Brightmore Road. We do not need to add to the mix a bus travelling down a very steep hill when it is not necessary.

This proposed change offers absolutely no benefit to the community. The current route has been in operation as is for decades, why the change now?

We find it crazy that this proposed change is suggested with absolutely no justification or consideration to current residents of the street. Not only do they propose to now have a bus travelling down the very steep hill of Benelong Road (which should brakes fail would send a bus out of control) we also have the noise of a bus trying to get up the hill on Benelong Road to go into the city. The residents do not need this sort of noise pollution when there are no benefits to be gained.

We also lose street parking which given the highly populated area is unacceptable.

Another resident writes:

The current 263 routes/bus stops work well and have for many years. I am very concerned that the proposed change will create major safety hazards for residents and children, reduce parking and create new and additional traffic issues in Benelong Rd, which is already suffering from increasing vehicles and speeding drivers.

In addition, the intersection at Gerard St/Benelong Rd is already busy with increasing traffic. It is:

*extremely narrow for any buses to safely turn left from Gerard St

*frequently queued with traffic turning right and left on their way to local schools, Northern Beaches or the city

*has elderly and young families/pedestrians regularly crossing at the lights on their way to Military Rd and Neutral Bay

*suffers from cars turning right illegally from Gerard St

Again, I have placed on record the concerns of residents. When I received their concerns I immediately contacted the State Transit Authority and indicated that residents were upset at not being consulted on these issues, and that the decision may be a fait accompli. However, I was relieved to hear from the relevant State Transit Authority officials that they are considering the concerns raised by residents, that they have received the petition and letters of complaint, and that they will carefully consider the issue. I have asked them to honour that commitment and to ensure that the concerns of residents are adequately taken into consideration. None of the residents proposed or support any of the routes changes. In fact, two sets of residents who object to the proposal on different grounds have made their views clear. I undertook to raise these issues in Parliament on their behalf. I urge the State Transit Authority to take their concerns into consideration. Public transport continues to be a high need particularly for that part of the electorate, given the crossroads to the city and to Military Road. I urge the State Transit Authority to take the residents' concerns on board and leave route 263 as it is.