“Transport for NSW has begun reaching out to those people and families impacted and will continue to discuss next steps in good faith.”
Opposition roads spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the new government was telling the community to “get out of the way” of its plans to air-drop developments, while cancelling the infrastructure required to meet the demand.
“[The previous Coalition government] has spent millions on the planning, design, and delivery strategy for the project, preparing it for planning approval,” she said. “If the new government was committed to delivering infrastructure, they would understand the investment process.”
Dudley Street resident Harry Cave and daughter Philippa.Credit: James Brickwood
While the previous government deferred the project, Ward said in the lead-up to the March state election that the Coalition was “absolutely committed to it” and would eventually build the motorway.
Retired school teachers Janet and Harry Cave are among those whose homes at Balgowlah have been acquired for the motorway. The couple ended up signing a contract to sell their three-bedroom townhouse to Transport for NSW on the eve of the election.
Their daughter Philippa Cave said the acquisition process had been stressful for her parents who did not want to move after shifting to Balgowlah 13 years ago to be close to her.
“The stress has really affected both Mum and Dad’s health, but particularly Mum because she doesn’t handle stress as well,” Philippa said.
The proposed route of the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.Credit: NSW government
“We were trying to wait it out until the change of government but due to health concerns we had to make a hasty decision at the end.”
While Philippa’s home at the end of Dudley Street was spared, she said the shelved motorway project was suppressing her property’s value because of perceptions a future government could revive the project, stymying her ability to sell and buy a similar property elsewhere in Sydney.
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“We’re still in limbo. People in the block have sold, but they’ve sold for quite a lot less than what they’re worth because they just wanted to get out and not have the hassle anymore,” she said.
Transport for NSW is now renting out the homes acquired for the motorway project. The agency said it expected to retain ownership of the properties.
The seven-kilometre Beaches Link tunnels were to have extended from Balgowlah and Seaforth to the Warringah Freeway at North Sydney, where the toll road would connect to the $6.7 billion Western Harbour Tunnel.
NSW budget papers show about $116 million has been spent over the years on the Beaches Link project. They do not break out the cost of property acquisitions, but the figure would easily run into the tens of millions of dollars.
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