Media Release
Monday Afternoon 4.15 Pm
29 September 1997
Eastern Distributor Protesters Occupy Pile Driving Crane
Anti-motorway protesters have infiltrated another Eastern Distributor construction site. This time at "Drivers Triangle" early last Monday morning.
Three supporters of the LinkUp (sic) group locked themselves to a towering "vibro pile" machine and then unfolded a large banner saying "Rail not Road".
Randwick Greens Councillor Murray Matson said later,
"Drivers Triangle was an little attractive park granting visual relief to the junction of Fitzroy, South Dowling and Flinders Streets. Now Its to become one of the Distributor’s gaping tunnel mouths through which will spew exhaust gases and more congestion."
The police rescue squad had to be called to cut through the protesters’ welded steel "lock-on" devices.
By 7.30 the three were under arrest along with a fourth activist who had been acting in a police liaison role.
The Eastern Distributor has been dogged by criticism and protests ever since the RTA publicly exhibited the plans last year. LinkUp spokesperson Adam Nelson said,
"The Eastern Distributor is not only disastrous for Sydney’s transport system - it is also a set back for the global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change."
There has now been 26 arrests over the last three weeks.
Contact:
Randwick Greens Councillor Murray Matson
LinkUp spokesperson Adam Nelson