Businesses disrupted over five years by Light Rail construction in Sydney have been in the high court today, fighting for compensation. The case is being watched closely by others facing similar problems with light rail projects here in Canberra in Parramatta on the Gold Coast.
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00:00Light rail from Circular Quay to Randwick cost nearly $3 billion, more than $1 billion above the estimate.
00:10And like other big public projects, it also ran over time with years of disruption from dust, jackhammers and hoardings.
00:18Today, lawyers for two businesses now seeking compensation were quizzed by the High Court judges
00:25about whether the disruption was simply an inevitable consequence of a large public project.
00:31They told the court it's not a common or ordinary use to turn the main street into a railway station.
00:39Lawyers for Transport NSW agreed, but told the court the businesses have not demonstrated the inconvenience was
00:48in the territory where it is something a neighbour shouldn't have to put up with.
00:53The case has peaked interest elsewhere as disputes arise over disruption by other light rail projects, including on the Gold Coast,
01:02and in Canberra where the government has offered a package only this week to help businesses in the city centre,
01:09months after key roads were closed for two years of construction.
01:14It will possibly set a precedent for this type of disruption to business across the country.
01:21It will be an interesting outcome, and I'm keenly keeping my eye on it.
01:26For the businesses nearby, things are dire. Sales are already down 50% at this cafe, where the owners say they are now planning to open at nights.
01:37We're not sure what's going to happen, but there will be a lot of opening costs.
01:40The longer we run, you have them in small wages, more for other things, but we're just going to give that a shot, see how it goes.
01:47The High Court's being asked to draw a line in the sand on compensation for disruptions to business from large public projects.
01:56But it will be those developing light rail corridors here in Canberra and on the Gold Coast who will be paying most attention,
02:03lest they too are forced to pay compensation to local businesses.