No M4 East Rally Forces RTA Back Down
Residents have forced the RTA to shut down the City West Link between Haberfield and Leichhardt on Sunday May 23 to allow a demonstration against the RTA's M4 East proposal to go ahead at 11 am.
The rally, organized by a coalition of anti-M4 East community groups with support from Leichhardt and Ashfield Councils, will commence in Reg Coady Reserve, Haberfield at 11am. Protesters will march along the City West Link to Norton St Leichhardt, finishing in Pioneers Park.
"The RTA has done its best to stop this protest going ahead on one of their roads," said Mary-Jane Gleeson, from EcoTransit Sydney.
"They threatened to turn people away from the rally if they arrived one minute after the scheduled start time of 11am and they have tried to impose unreasonable restrictions on access to the site even though we have police permission to go ahead," she said.
"Today we were finally notified that they will allow us to demonstrate using their road. No other demonstration would have these unnecessary delays put in their way," said Ms Gleeson.
The RTA is up to its usual tricks trying to stifle genuine community debate and opposition to a motorway the community clearly does not want," she said.
EcoTransit is an advocacy group that promotes sustainable transport alternatives in the Sydney region. Their campaigns have included the successful campaign to stop the M6 motorway proposed for the Sutherland region and a long-standing proposal now supported by Clover Moore and the City of Sydney to reintroduce light rail into the CBD and south-eastern suburbs.
The group last month released a new Light Rail West alternative to the M4 East which it is currently promoting.
"The Mayors of Leichhardt and Ashfield Councils are both highly supportive of good public transport alternatives for this area. They have supported the community wholeheartedly in this campaign to stop the M4 East and redirect resources into light rail," said Ms Gleeson.