Those against the development said it would be “horrific” health- and traffic-wise, to the region.
Those for the project said it would be a “once in a lifetime opportunity” project expected to transform the freight and logistics supply chain along the east coast.
Closer to home, it would provide $120 million annually to the local economy, more than $11B in economic benefits over the next 30 years and some 1300 jobs during construction and up to 6800 people to be employed when the precinct is operating at full capacity.
The very controversial project, which would include up to 850,000 square metre of integrated warehousing when fully developed, is the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct development on the outskirts of the Liverpool CBD
Liverpool City Council, which has long been opposed to the project because of its size and impact on the community, has withdrawn mounting appeals against two planning consents relating to the project, having exhausted all “justifiable legal avenues”.
In giving up its fight – council suggested the project should be relocated near the Badgerys Creek airport site – the local authority has given $50,000 to the Residents Against Intermodal Development (RAID) community group in its appeal with the Land and Environment Court.
“This development will be extremely destructive to Liverpool and to south-west Sydney in terms of health and traffic it’ll be horrific,” said Jennifer French, on behalf of RAID, which has partnered with the Environmental Defenders Office to launch the court action.
“We believe that’s the only way we’ll get justice …as residents we have to oppose it, we have to keep fighting.
In the meantime, the first sod has been turned in the presence of Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann, Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Darren Chester, Qube Holdings chairman, Chris Corrigan and Moorebank Intermodal Company chairwoman, Kerry Schott.
“Together with the $3.6 billion Western Sydney infrastructure plan and the airport at Badgerys Creek this project will be a major economic contributor to Western Sydney and to the national economy,” Mr Cormann said.
“This will, of course, enable faster freight times and reduced costs for businesses and consumers and for Australia as a trading economy, getting our products to market at the lowest possible cost and the safest most efficient way possible is a critical part of our future economic success.”
Ms Schott said one of the ongoing priorities of her company was to ensure the community could capitalise on opportunities provided by the precinct.
“We’re very conscious going forward to make sure we provide skills and training and opportunity for people in Western Sydney and, in particular, around Liverpool,” she said. Ms Schott said the terminal was important for Liverpool and its surrounds:
“When you put this together with the new airport I think this is the start of a large industrial future.”
Liverpool chief executive, Kiersten Fishburn, when announcing council’s decision not to appeal, said it was determined to “work constructively” with the project’s operators.
Ms Fishburn said a new permanent senior planner would be appointed to manage the council’s ongoing response to the development.
