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Other pages on this site: Conservation Council Says "No"
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"Ruth Pilkinton, councillor for Leichhardt/Lilyfield Ward of Leichhardt Council, opposes the expansion of the STA bus depot on Balmain Road Leichhardt. Ruth believes that Leichhardt residents should not be subjected to the increased noise, air and visual pollution that will be created by an expansion of the bus depot. Ruth is concerned that the proposal to increase bus movements from this depot until 3 am in the morning will inevitably cause significant sleep disturbance for residents who live close to the site. She is also concerned about the road-safety risk posed by an increase in bus traffic on already congested local roads. The State Government is preparing a master plan for the Balmain Road site that includes expanding the playing area for Leichhardt High School students across West Moore Street and establishing a cultural centre in the old tram sheds. It has even been mooted that the nursing home proprietors, the Scallabrinni Fathers, may be able to construct a nursing home on the STA bus depot site. In Councillor Pilkinton's view, these uses are all incompatible with an expansion of the bus depot. Why then is the State Government proposing a $500,000.00 re-development of this site? While Councillor Pilkinton wants bus services to Leichhardt to be improved, she believes that a better alternative is to move the STA bus depot to the SRA shunting yards in Rozelle. Councillor Pilkinton
is calling on the State Government to consult fully with local residents
before imposing on them this expansion of the STA bus depot."
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Councillor
Ruth Pilkinton was outspoken in 2000 against the proposed bus depot
expansion.