Helensburgh is at risk of being inundated with trucks carrying rock waste from Waterfall until 2022. 

We are gravely concerned about Transport NSW's plan to open a new spoil storage site in Helensburgh, at the end of Wilsons Creek Road. The proposal involves rock waste being transported by trucks from the Waterfall rail site weekdays 7am to 5pm until late 2022. The route will be along Parkes Street ending at Wilsons Creek Road. The dump site is just off Wilsons Creek Road bordering the Royal National Park and the Garawarra State Reserve. This is regarded as an environmentally sensitive site as signposted by Transport NSW. 

Environmental impacts

Our fragile and pristine environment will be compromised. The flora and fauna, including our resident lyre birds and numerous native birds, will be adversely impacted. Sediment runoff from the spoil site during heavy rains may contaminate the local environment and enter the Hacking River Catchment which runs through the Royal National Park to the ocean. Noise pollution, dust pollution and vibration along our narrow roads may severely impact residents and local businesses on Parkes Street and Wilsons Creek Road. 

Resident safety

Wilsons Creek Road has historically been a no through road used only by local residents and visitors, this will significantly increase the traffic in the area . This proposed project will heighten the risk for residents as there are no footpaths on Wilsons Creek Road. They will need to share the road with an unknown number of  trucks laden with rock waste. This includes our children catching trains to and from school and our young families walking their children in prams. This road has many pinch points allowing only one vehicle to pass at a time, making truck movements very dangerous. Numerous visitors to the area also use this road to access walking tracks and mountain bike tracks for recreational purposes. 

Transport NSW has not communicated their environmental assessments with local residents. 

The residents of Helensburgh reject this proposal for a new spoil site in our community and demand Transport NSW reconsider their plans.