Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Parkdale elevated rail

Petition

Mr HAYES (Southern Metropolitan) (17:46): E-petition 395 draws the attention of the Legislative Council to the risks and issues associated with the proposed sky rail at Parkdale. Numerous residents and businesses have contacted me about this proposal, and while they accept that modification is inevitable, they believe the planned sky rail is not the best solution for this situation. Parkdale has a unique seaside village atmosphere, with a cafe culture that thrives on abundant sunlight and natural flora, enhancing the community interaction. There is a heritage overlay on the Parkdale shops at Como Parade West, and residents believe that sky rail will have a negative impact on the character of the neighbourhood. The proposed sky rail’s visual bulk will cast a shadow that affects the whole village, especially small business, and increasing noise will be heard throughout the surrounding community. Within 50 metres of this project is a kindergarten, several primary and high schools, and cafes and restaurants that rely on the visual amenity and light in the area for their everyday wellbeing.

It is no surprise that we are told by residents and businesses that they have felt left out of the process and that government has not listened to their concerns. The issue is like a recurring bad dream for them. It seems to many that the government purposely removes the community when designing projects. I urge the government to stop this autocratic and unidirectional decision-making in our state. True community consultation, which is a democratic process, improves public projects by allowing competing interests and preferences to be heard and taken into account. Active community involvement gives rise to community ownership of perceived problems and their solutions, thereby enhancing the prospects of a sustainable outcome. The community should be stakeholders. People are an integral part of the solution and not independent from it. Residents want involvement, and this should be a basic community right.

This e-petition asks the government to discuss alternatives to the Parkdale sky rail, such as providing a costing for an underground option. It also asks the government to listen to the residents of Parkdale and engage in authentic and consultative communication to deliver an outcome which works in favour of the community. I support this e-petition and urge the government to act and listen. Real communication goes in both directions.