Jones Lane vacant land and noise barriers

This is a long posting to address a couple of issues raised on the blog.

There has been a lot of chat on the blog on what we should do about the land next to HM on Jones Lane. Thanks to Elena, Nathan and Mario for these comments:

"Elena

Some thoughts for consideration:
A) should we lodge some kind of petition to the rms/council to clean up the south eastern garden and ensure there are no cars abandoned under the highway?
B) same as above regarding noise barriers installation, same as was done on other parts of the western distributor around the area
C) when everyone inspects their apartments next week - please share your comments/ views if you don't mind
Cheers

Nathan

A) not only the cars - some cars are from workers but most of them just free loader, dont understand why ranger never book this area. and someone setup a temp shelter / tent there looks creepy. 
B) i could really use this , one of my window is facing that distributor and people drive by could see through my window. but which authority should we send petition to??

Mario

Re- abandon cars - I don't think the cars that park there are abandoned - I only noticed the one vehicle that appears to be a home for someone. The other cars simply park there - (most Likely have been doing so for years to avoid paying for parking) 

I think in due course we will understand our surrounding area a little more once we have moved in."

For those wondering what this issue is, here is what it looks like next to Jones Lane. The overhead concrete bulk is the Western Distributor.

I have discussed this with Ceerose, the City of Sydney Council and Roads & Maritime Services (RMS), and here are the issues:

1. Prior to the construction starting on HM, this area was landscaped. But it was a blessing for Ceerose and tradesmen working on HM (and therefore, indirectly for all of us) because they were able to park there all day without cost. There was an unofficial agreement that it could be used for parking in the interests of getting the job done.

2. About a year ago, Ceerose told me that as part of the arrangement, Ceerose had agreed to remediate and landscape the area after HM was finished. When I asked about this recently, another Ceerose person said it had nothing to do with them, and was up to the owner of the land to fix it.

3. I contacted City of Sydney with this letter:

"For the last few years, the vacant land between Jones Lane and Bulwara Road (most of it is under the Western Distributor) has been used by the tradesmen for parking. It has also become known by the public as a place where you can park all day without cost, plus people sleep there. Someone has even pitched a tent.

​Can you please advise what Council plans to do with this space following the completion of the development.

Without prompt action, it will become a dumping ground for garbage and waste. Much of it is covered by the road, so people will sleep there. Generally, the Council has been able to prevent people sleeping under the road in this area, including some urban art near Fig Street and Harris Street. It would also benefit from some dense landscaping.

But if left alone now, it will become a complete mess. Please advise what is planned."

4. I received this reply:

"Dear Graham,

The land you have highlighted (known as 209A Bulwara Rd Pyrmont) including the parking spaces, is owned by NSW Roads & Maritime Services(RMS), not Council.

You should refer your concerns to RMS using the attached web link: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=feedback.form

I have found recent information about the homeless people in the area, one person is a NZ citizen and not eligible for rehousing, one person has been assisted to find accommodation by the NSW Housing initiative (Link2Home) and we have attempted to have the two homeless people reduce material, but we do not have power to move them on.

I hope that this information is of some assistance.

Kind Regards,

Andrew"

5. To which I responded:

"Thanks, Andrew. Appreciate the feedback.

Not sure I understand how someone can simply pitch a tent and stay there. I'm sure if I went to the Gold Coast or Byron Bay or Bondi and instead of paying for accommodation, I pitched my tent near the beach, it would not be long before I was moved on."

6. And they replied:

"Hi Graham,

Understood, the official Council response about the rough sleepers in Belmore Park (opposite the main entrance to Central Station) is: We wouldn’t support legislation that prohibits people sleeping in public places, however we recognise that setting up tents can infringe on the amenity of the park and people’s ability to enjoy the space with others. The City works to maintain the amenity of public places and ensure that all people who use our parks are able to access them safely. Homelessness is a complex issue and the City takes a compassionate approach. People who are sleeping rough are often disadvantaged, usually for very complex reasons. The City supports the NSW Government’s Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places, which promotes the rights of people who are homeless to access public spaces without discrimination.

That is only the City’s approach, not sure about the Gold Coast, Byron Bay or Bondi.

Kind Regards,

Andrew"

7. So then I contacted RMS which owns the land. After four phone calls, I finally found someone who knew about it, and he promised to find out more. His understanding is that now the work is finished, the RMS will landscape the area and ensure it is not used for general parking. He promised to call back and I will update the blog when I hear more. Good news I hope.

Noise barriers on the Western Distributor. 

We could try a petition as suggested by Elena and Nathan but based on my correspondence with RMS, success is unlikely. I attach two responses on the RMS Noise Abatement Program (NAP), in which they say, "The NAP only considers treatments for buildings with no more than two habitable levels due to the prohibitive cost." So HM is not eligible, although I guess we could apply if we were willing to pay for it ourselves. Should we explore this?

I wrote to RMS suggesting we should have barriers similar to those on the road about 100 metres closer to the city. Why are they there and not on the part outside HM?

RMS replied as follows: