Residents Take Action Against 'Unhealthy' Traffic Noise
A group of residents in Albion Park has formally requested that Shellharbour City Council construct a noise barrier to protect their homes from what they describe as unhealthy levels of noise and atmospheric pollution. The four residents, who live on Mood Circuit, have submitted a petition to the council, which will be considered at the upcoming council meeting.
The Source of the Problem
In a letter accompanying the petition, the residents detailed their concerns, pointing directly to the proliferation of housing developments in the Albion Park, Calderwood, and Tullimbar areas over the past five years. This growth has led to a substantial increase in traffic using Ashburton Drive, which runs behind their properties.
The residents stated that their street now endures a practically continuous procession of traffic flowing from new developments via Church Street and Terry Street. Currently, only a line of trees separates their homes from the busy road, offering minimal protection from the constant din and fumes.
Seeking Parity and Peace
The petition calls on the council to build an acoustic barrier along the Ashburton Drive boundaries of their four properties. They noted that houses on the opposite side of the road already benefit from such a structure. Furthermore, the residents have also asked the council for financial assistance to install double glazing in their homes for additional noise insulation.
The matter has been included in the business paper for the council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night. At this stage, the submission is for the information of councillors and does not include a formal recommendation from council staff.
Council's Financial Position
Also featured in the same business paper is Shellharbour City Council's 2024-25 financial report. The report revealed a strong financial year for the council, with an operating surplus of $73.9 million. This represents a significant increase from the $26 million surplus recorded in the previous financial year.
More notably, the council maintained a $37 million surplus after state and federal grants were subtracted. This indicates that the council's healthy financial position is not reliant on external government funding, potentially giving it more flexibility in addressing community requests like the one from the Albion Park residents.
