Sydney Metro is being accused of "push polling" the public over the Sydenham to Bankstown section of the $20 billion rail line in telephone surveys critics say omit crucial information about the impact of the project.
Two companies, The Knowledge Warehouse and Newgate Research, have been conducting the surveys to test public attitudes towards the metro, which will replace the Bankstown heavy rail line.
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The surveys cost $122,500 and involved more than 2800 people who live along the 66 kilometre Sydney Metro route from Rouse Hill in Sydney's northwest, through the city to Bankstown.
After establishing a respondent's attitude, the surveys present a series of statements about the benefits of the Sydney Metro.
They include that Sydney Metro "will help increase rail capacity across Sydney, allowing the number of trains entering the CBD to go from 120 an hour to 200 during peak times" and highlight 24 hour security at stations and extra car parking in the north-west.
The survey notes that during construction of the city to Bankstown section "stations between Sydenham and Bankstown will be closed so the line can be converted to Sydney Metro – alternative transport arrangements will be in place during this time".
However, a community group opposing the Sydenham to Bankstown section argues it fails to mention many negative aspects of the project.
They include a reduction in the number of seats on each train from 896 to 378, the loss of direct access to St Peters, Erskineville, Town Hall, Circular Quay and other city circle stations and demolition of houses.
![Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited construction of a Sydney Metro station last month.](/web/20170207132028im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/2/1/4/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu30dp.png/1486292062622.jpg)
"The state government appear to be push-polling the community through this questionnaire, presenting many statements that are at best half-truths," said Peter Olive, spokesman for the Sydenham to Bankstown Corridor Alliance.
"Shutting down the existing train service between Sydenham and Bankstown and replacing it with another train service, in the same corridor, is a waste of taxpayers' money and just plain stupid. The state government's questionnaire is trying to put spin on this dodgy plan."
"For commuters between Sydenham and Bankstown the metro will mean fewer seats, loss of access to City Circle Stations, major disruption during construction and the loss of the existing quality service."
A spokesman for Sydney Metro said community feedback "is crucial to getting this once-in-a-century project right and shaping it for the future".
"This questionnaire used industry-standard methods and guidelines to ensure the views of the community were accurately captured to allow planners and designers to take on board the community's feedback," he said.
"The questionnaire specifically addressed people's concerns including inconvenience caused by construction, quality of public transport, changes to suburbs and the upgrade of two existing railway lines to metro standards."