A group of Dubbo residents disgruntled with the construction of a railway maintenance facility behind their houses met on Tuesday afternoon and are likely to lobby MP Troy Grant for financial compensation.
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The new purpose-built facility will be built in Dubbo to service and maintain trains.
Tayla Kennedy said residents might submit a claim with the state government for compensation as their house values will drop as a result of the facility.
“We received our first formal notification from NSW Rail via the post on Wednesday, August 7 and we had our meeting with NSW Rail representatives on Friday, August 17 which is when we were notified the facility would be located 100 metres from our back fence,” she said.
“My boyfriend and I bought our home in November 2017. If we knew about this facility, we never would have purchased our home. We rented our house for two years before we bought it, so if there was going to be early notification, we would have received it.
“We are now backed into a corner; we cannot sell our home and make enough money from it to buy another home, nor can we expect to sell it during or after construction and have it increase in value. Who would want to live in front of that? This was our way into the property market, and the beginning of our life together with our young son. We now face the prospect of selling our home at a loss and going back to renting, which isn't what we wanted for ourselves nor our son.”
A spokesperson for Troy Grant said the Dubbo MP would meet with Ms Kennedy to discuss her situation and that he would be “happy” to meet with any resident who had concerns about the facility.
Ms Kennedy said Mr Grant and the state government had let residents down and NSW Rail had given “appalling” answers to her questions.
“NSW Rail told us there would be significant noise disruption to our house during the two years of construction, and could not verify the level of noise once the facility is up and running,” she said.
A spokesperson for NSW Transport said they are committed to minimising impacts to residents throughout the project.
“Working closely and effectively with the local community is a priority for us and a plan to manage noise will be prepared and implemented,” the spokesperson said.
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
