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.
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