THE state government’s handling of a rise in noise levels along Footscray’s rail corridor has come into question with residents calling for more transparency in how the issue is tackled.
Dissatisfaction with the regional rail link consultation process prompted a recent community forum about the project’s noise impact.
Last month, the Weekly reported rail noise will noticeably increase in sections of the Footscray and West Footscray rail corridor, with investigations triggered for part of Raleigh Street, Buckley Street west of Victoria Street and Sunshine Road west of Cala Street.
But residents have raised concerns some of the most heavily affected properties aren’t being considered for noise mitigation because they fail to meet the ‘‘noise increase’’ trigger.
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland said a recent ‘Know your rights about regional rail link noise’ forum had been spurred by the community being “deeply unsatisfied” with noise policy consultation. In Parliament last week, Ms Hartland called on Planning Minister Matthew Guy to explain why only a handful of homes along the new rail line were eligible for noise management treatments.
She sought an explanation about the noise monitoring measures that would be undertaken once the regional rail link was operating.
Mr Guy said monitoring would be ongoing once the rail line was operating. “The [transport] department] will be availed of any noise monitoring once the project starts. When the details of the ongoing noise monitoring issues are finalised, residents will know about them and the government will be communicating that to all involved, including the local council.”
