Activists block Eastern Distributor
By Kerry Nettle
SYDNEY — Greens councillor Tom McLoughlin from Waverley Council was among eight protesters arrested on September 9 for blockading the felling of trees on the Eastern Distributor route.
Those arrested, all supporters of the anti-motorway group Link Up, refused to sign the bail conditions prohibiting their presence within 200 metres of the construction site fence.
Two more protesters were arrested on September 10 as they tried to block building work on the Eastern Distributor.
The private tollway is being built through the city and eastern suburbs. Link Up calls on the government to provide more public transport infrastructure and services instead of building more freeways.
"Not only is inner city Sydney losing one of its largest parks to eight lanes of concrete, but local residents will soon be faced with more traffic and exhaust fumes", said Link Up spokesperson Libby Ellis.
Currently, South Dowling Street (the road to be widened and become the Eastern Distributor) is a public road. It will be handed over to a private company to make money by charging the highest toll in Australia, $3.
In eastern Sydney, lots of public transport and traffic-reducing solutions exist — for example, the new Pyrmont light rail system. There are other light and heavy rail plans for the eastern suburbs.
Link Up can be contacted on (02) 9247 4080 or 041 766 4639.