By ALESHA CAPONE
ARDEER and Sunshine North residents affected by severe noise pollution and vibrations have called for the Regional Rail Link tracks to be constructed below the ground in their suburbs.
Several residents have contacted Star and questioned why the Regional Rail Link Authority (RRLA) will not build a cutting from Anderson Rd to Fitzgerald Rd, like the one in Wyndham Vale further down the line.
“Our community, which has the highest residential density of anywhere along the line, is told that it cannot have a cutting,” Ardeer resident Anna Parapouras said.
“While a wall may address noise, it will not address vibration that causes our doors and windows to rattle every time a train goes past.”
Sunshine North resident John Kodric and other protestors gathered at the Ardeer Train Station last Wednesday with a fake noise wall they created.
The group designed the prop to demonstrate their opinion the proposed corten steel noise walls – which the RRLA has proposed building along Forrest St, Fraser St and Ridgeway Pde – would be inadequate.
“From the early days of the project, the government and RRL has been well aware that the noise levels – both passenger and freight – in our area are already exceedingly high, at 92 decibels maximum and over 60 decibels in an hour at the Kellie O’Connell Kindergarten, Ridgeway Parade,” Mr Kodric said.
“Our community has said time and again that it does not want ugly walls to deal with the noise from the increased rail noise as a result of the regional rail project,” said Geraldine Brooks from the Fix the Links community group.
A RRLA spokesperson said they would provide “scientifically-tested noise barriers which will help to block the main source of rail noise”.
“Further, a cutting does not satisfy the noise policy principle of best-fit solutions, which requires RRLA to take account of what is practicable, reasonable and cost effective, and is not a feasible noise treatment option for this area,” she said.
