Rex Whalen has lived in his Warrell Creek home for 60 years and it has been in his family for 130 years.
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On the eve of his 84th birthday the old house is all but falling down around him thanks to the incessant vibration of construction machinery rumbling past his front gate, only 20 metres away.
Rex’s daughter Paulette says the constant movement is shaking the house to pieces.
“We know this is an old house but structural stuff is coming undone because of the vibration,” Paulette said.
“It is falling apart and the dust is unbelievable.”
Work on that part of the Pacific Highway upgrade began in early 2014 with a Roads and Maritime Services contractor inspecting the building in October 2015.
The report concluded the building ‘revealed many minor defects … and is not structurally sound’.
Little happened in the intervening two years until Mr Whalen’s daughter Paulette moved in to care for her father at the end of 2017.
In spite of having “been identified (by the RMS) as requiring at-house noise treatment to reduce the impact of noise from the new highway”, it was not until March this year, when Paulette raised the matter, that the doors and windows of the property were upgraded – something that is a standard noise reduction measure.
Questions to the RMS regarding this belated addition simply noted the upgrade had taken place.
“Where possible, work which potentially impacts the property has been modified to minimise the likelihood of damage to the house, including rearranging the work site and traffic stopping points to reduce noise,” the RMS spokeswoman said.
Paulette said repeated requests for noise and vibration monitoring resulted in the recent installation of a monitor, which was removed hours later due to the lack of a trained operator.
“It was a joke … my father has been all but ignored.”
RMS said it was aware of the concerns raised by Mr Whalen as part of the Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads Pacific Highway upgrade and the family had been offered respite through temporary relocation.
The spokeswoman said that offer remained available to them.
She said a dust gauge was installed at the property in May 2015 and regular measurements had been taken.
“Roads and Maritime understands dust can be a significant issue to the community and is continuing to work with residents to manage and minimise dust where possible.
“The RMS has ensured the resident has access to suitable drinking water and is regularly replenishing water for their stock. There has also been agreement to install a first-flush system to the house and work will be carried out shortly.
“A post construction building inspection will be carried out by a qualified person and any damage identified as a result of work carried out on the project will be rectified.”
Paulette said previously the house fronted a small rural lane, now it is facing 10 lanes of traffic: “We are certainly concerned about the noise of the freeway.”