In parliament this week, Wollongong MP Paul Scully was critical of a Transport for NSW proposal to send as much as 9000 tonnes of rock a day from WestConnex tunnelling to a Bluescope-owned site.

Mr Scully claimed Transport for NSW did not adequately inform Port Kembla residents of the proposal in time for them to lodge a submission in opposition.

He was also “disappointed” that council did not relay the information to residents after meeting with TfNSW.

A council spokesman confirmed the meeting with TfNSW but said the transportation of the so-called “spoil” was not occurring in areas for which it had responsibility.

“The notification from TfNSW shows the spoil would go to a transfer facility at Port Kembla that would be situated on private land,” the spokesman said.

“The movement of the spoil from Sydney to the Port Kembla transfer facility would occur via State Rail.

“TfNSW also said that the subsequent movement of the spoil from the transfer facility in Port Kembla to construction projects within the Illawarra would be via state-managed roads, not roads managed by council.

“Also as this is a state agency project it is not council’s responsibility to notify residents.”

A spokesman for TfNSW suggested residents had been given adequate time to voice any concerns about the proposal before the closing date for submissions.

“TfNSW invited community feedback between Monday 14 to Monday August 28, 2017, on a proposal to transport clean spoil from WestConnex project sites by freight train between Chullora and Port Kembla,” the spokesman said.

He said letters and newspaper ads asked local residents for comment.

“Letters were sent in time to reach residents at the beginning of the feedback process, with local advertisements appearing on August 15 and 22, 2017,” he said.