Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen, has called plans to conduct geotechnical drilling in the driveway of sick and elderly Haberfield residents “callous, cruel and utterly unnecessary.”

Residents have been notified that the drilling is required for testing for the proposed M4-M5 link, although the site they have chosen is metres away from land already used for construction for Stage 1 of the project.

News of the work has come as a surprise to residents of the social housing estate on Alt Street, who have already been coping with months and months of dust, noise and disruption.

Few details are available about the planned third stage of the project, with an Environmental Impact Statement due mid-year.

Comments attributable to Jo Haylen MP, Member for Summer Hill:

“The decision to conduct this work metres away from an existing construction site beggars belief.

“WestConnex’s plans are callous, cruel and utterly unnecessary.

“If this work goes ahead, ambulances and emergency vehicles will be obstructed and elderly and sick residents won’t be able to use their vehicles.

“WestConnex has to start listening to the community and stop making heartless decisions that also fail to make sense.”