Technical difficulties have hampered online consultation forums for the Medlow Bath highway duplication, leading Blue Mountains Council to ask for an urgent extension to the community consultation period.
At the July 28 meeting, Blue Mountains Council voted unanimously, and as a matter of urgency, to write to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole and Transport for NSW Director West, Alistair Lunn for an extension to the consultation period beyond August 15.
The highway duplication proposal has concluded there is no way to bypass the little village. Instead, the road will be widened to four lanes, plus a turning lane. It would be squeezed between the front wall of the Hydro Majestic and the railway line.
In an appeal by Ward 1 Cr Kevin Schreiber, council heard not everyone had been able to access the technology and an extension by a month or longer was necessary so face-to-face forums could be held in small groups with social distancing.
"It's most important that we get this done as a face-to-face meeting for the people of Medlow Bath," Cr Schreiber said. "They're the ones that are going to suffer. At the moment they have been totally forgotten about. It's been put out there and they have to cop what they say. I think that is wrong attitude to have."
Cr Kerry Brown, who seconded the motion, said both Cr Don McGregor and Cr Kevin Schreiber had been unable to get into the meeting.
"I did get in but then I couldn't hear. You'd think by now a government department would have sorted out that level of online work. Most people didn't get to speak in the end, let alone ask questions. We want this done in a proper way."
She said not everyone was comfortable with working online and the community was small enough to make face-to-face meetings possible.
Jacob William wrote to the Gazette recently because he needed to help his "non techy mother [Denise William] with a meeting about the Great Western Highway upgrade".
"She was stressed because at short notice the meetings went to an online format. Her only other option was a private telephone conversation with TfNSW, but she wanted to hear what others had to say." Neither was happy about the information revealed, particularly around safety issues.
Update: Today (August 6) Transport for NSW has agreed to extend the Medlow Bath consultation for two weeks.
Acting director western region, Alistair Lunn, said the extension was in recognition of the difficulties because of COVID-19.
"We had hoped to be able to provide a number of face-to-face consultation sessions with the community on this important work to achieve the best possible design for the highway through Medlow Bath," Mr Lunn said.
"However, being COVID-safe has meant interested community members accessing information and talking to the project team online or directly over the phone, which needs some extra time.
"The extension of the consultation period will help us make sure everyone gets a chance to have their say."
Any member of the community can book an over-the-phone consultation on 1800 953 777 or provide feedback online via: www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/great-western-highway/katoomba-to-lithgow/interactive-portal.html or gwhd@rms.nsw.gov.au.
-with Jennie Curtin
