Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Suburban Rail Loop

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:44): (1883) My adjournment is to the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop. The action I seek is that the minister publicly acknowledge and appropriately address the health impacts of the SRL works in Heatherton. Infrastructure projects should never be put before people’s health, but under the Allan Labor government everyday people are being steamrolled by the Suburban Rail Loop authority. It is disturbing enough to hear about these issues in the media, but it is another thing to hear about them from residents and yet another to experience it personally.

Just a few days ago I received an emotional voicemail message from a resident in Heatherton affected by the SRL works at the Heatherton stabling yard. I would like to tell this resident that I could move the train yard, but the best the opposition can do right now is to rally with community, expose their concerns in Parliament and call on the government to act. Residents are complaining about nausea, vertigo, headaches, vomiting and grinding of their teeth from stress. These symptoms are linked to low-frequency noise and vibrations from generators or machinery, which disrupt the inner ear’s balance mechanisms. A constituent who visited their doctor was told that their symptoms were environmentally created. Another constituent became bedbound, with their dog suffering and whimpering in pain. It got so bad that they were forced to leave their home to live with their parents or to couch surf with friends. Those who remain are forced to leave home by 7 am to avoid the vibrations. But for one of my constituents who works night shift, this is not sustainable. As for tradies, the offer of a shared workplace is also not useful.

What are some of the other tokenistic initiatives that the government has provided? Tea bags and biscuits. If that is not enough, another constituent was offered a massage or a restaurant service. The government also has offered double glazing, but there is a catch: only windows directly facing the site are eligible for upgrades. How does this help when vibrations can be heard well beyond the site? According to Ms Shing, these gestures are a part of ‘a whole suite of support’. Well, I have a message for the minister from my residents: your package is not working. They think it is pathetic. One resident spoke to the SRL authority via their 1800 number and was told that plans for an acoustic chamber would be completed in late 2026 and that the worst of it would be experienced over several months, if not longer. Minister, can you advise what action you will take to address concerns raised by residents regarding the use of machinery on the Heatherton SRL site that is appearing to make people ill?