HUNDREDS of residents are expected to gather at Parliament House in Sydney this afternoon to attend a debate on WestCONnex after more than 10,000 people from across Sydney petitioned the Baird Government to halt work on the $15.4 billion toll road.
The parliamentary debate will be followed by a short rally outside Parliament, where community campaigners and affected residents from across the project's 33km route will address the crowd.
"The fact that so many people from all over Sydney signed this petition reveals the rising community anger against this taxpayer-funded toll road," said WestCONnex Action Group spokesperson Pauline Lockie, who will be speaking at the rally.
"More and more people are waking up to just how corrupted the processes surrounding the $15.4 billion WestCONnex toll road really are. Contracts are being signed, hundreds of people's homes and businesses are being taken away, and millions of dollars of our money is being spent before any planning approvals are granted.
"The fact that so many people from all over Sydney signed this petition reveals the rising community anger against this taxpayer-funded toll road," said WestCONnex Action Group spokesperson Pauline Lockie, who will be speaking at the rally.
"More and more people are waking up to just how corrupted the processes surrounding the $15.4 billion WestCONnex toll road really are. Contracts are being signed, hundreds of people's homes and businesses are being taken away, and millions of dollars of our money is being spent before any planning approvals are granted.
“NSW taxpayers are bearing all the risk if WestCONnex fails, yet Premier Baird refuses to release the business case that supposedly justifies the huge gamble he's taking with our future.
“This petition shows that people across Sydney have had enough of the secrecy surrounding WestCONnex. We deserve to know why Premier Baird is wasting billions of taxpayer dollars and gearing up to destroy thriving suburbs for WestCONnex when experts say this toll road will be a spectacular financial failure.
“If Premier Baird is truly serious about transparency, honesty and accountability, he and his government will agree to the community’s demand to release the business case and hold a parliamentary inquiry into WestCONnex.”
Running sheet: Parliamentary debate and rally, Thursday 19 November
3:30pm: Gather at the top of Martin Place at Macquarie St for briefing. WAG campaigners available for interview. Public to be seated inside Parliament by 4:15pm.
4:30pm: Debate starts.
~5pm: Gather outside Parliament for post-debate rally.
Media contact: Pauline Lockie 0414 470 106, Kathryn Calman 0421 181 057
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