Frustrated residents facing 24-hour Sydney Metro excavation and hammering

John Finucane finally returned to his Pyrmont home in April, after a two-year absence to escape the noise from Sydney Metro's construction.

However, a few weeks ago he got a knock on the door, telling him to expect 24-hour excavation and mechanical hammering in a cavern just a few metres from his front door.

"We thought it was over," Mr Finucane told the ABC.

"And then to get the knock on the door to say there's more coming at you with extended hours … is just ridiculous."

He and his wife Kit were given a choice.

Either move to alternate accommodation, booked by the project contractor JCG, or put up with 10 days of constant noise.

Residents have been offered alternative accommodation while the work continues. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

Twenty-two households around the future Metro West station at Pyrmont were made similar offers.

He said he and his wife were still considering their options.

A home away from home

In 2023, Mr Finucane and his wife decided to escape the noise and leave their property, accepting an offer from the project team to pay the rent on a home in Enmore.

One year became two.

"In early 2024 … it [became] pretty clear that it was going to go on for a fair bit longer," Mr Finucane said.

They were not able to return to Pyrmont until April this year, because the excavation work next door had damaged their property.

"There were holes in the ceilings and the floors had collapsed at stages.

"Externally there was damage as well [and] we had water penetration."

Mr Finucane's home has been damaged by the Sydney Metro excavation. (Supplied)

While the project covered the costs of repairs, Mr Finucane said the house did not feel "quite the same".

Noisy work has continued since they returned home, with some excavation work allowed until 10pm.

And from Tuesday, the noise will continue around the clock for 10 days.

Mr Finucane said he was supportive of the Metro West project, which will connect the CBD to Westmead via Parramatta.

"It's good for Sydney commuters, it is good for the area," he said.

However, he said he could not understand why a project with seven years left to run needed to disturb residents day and night.

"There's an enormous level of frustration," he said.

The Metro West project still has seven years to run. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

The government and its contractors are under pressure across several metro projects.

The south-west extension from Sydenham to Bankstown is months behind schedule, while the Western Sydney Airport Metro is not expected to be ready when the first commercial flights land in 2026.

The $25 billion Metro West project is facing ballooning costs, with the premier this week conceding there could be a blowout of up to $2 billion.

Against that backdrop, Mr Finucane said he feared Pyrmont residents were collateral in a drive for faster construction.

"Whether someone's worried about missing their bonuses, I don't know. Call me a sceptic."

'There's no way we can move'

One of Mr Finucane's neighbours, Margaret Kirkwood, is due to return home from hospital this weekend after undergoing a hip replacement operation.

Her husband Bob is 86.

Speaking to the ABC from hospital, she said the offer of a hotel or serviced apartment was not an option for either of them.

"We can't move. There's no way," she said.

A truck leaves a Sydney Metro construction site. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

Given their limited mobility right now, she said they would need assistance to physically move out, but none has been offered.

Instead, they will have to contend with the noise.

They can just about handle it during the day she said, but not at night.

"You cannot sleep. Even if you take drugs, sleeping pills or something, you cannot sleep through it.

"I just feel so helpless."

Residents have struggled to sleep because of the work. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

Ms Kirkwood said someone from the project was arranging noise-cancelling headphones for them to wear, which she hoped might make life more tolerable.

Like Mr Finucane, Ms Kirkwood said she strongly supported the metro.

"I'm not a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard), and I'm very pleased the metro is going ahead," she said.

"It's going to be fantastic when it's done.

[But] this is an unreasonable expectation of residents."

Short-term pain for long term gain, Metro says

Sydney Metro said that allowing hammering to continue throughout the night would create less disruption for residents in the long run.

"Temporarily extending the hours of use for up to 10 days will eliminate up to four weeks of daytime hammering," a spokesperson said.

"Hammering equipment is being used to create a stable floor that will support platforms and tracks in the future Pyrmont station.

"Our contractors … have been working hard to engage with local residents, providing information and the offer of alternative accommodation during the nights of extended hours."

Mr Finucane has only just returned to his Pyrmont home. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

But having spent two years out of home already and with a dog to take care of, Mr Finucane said he wished he could stay home and sleep soundly through the night.

"I don't want to go and sit in a city hotel for two weeks," he said.

"I don't want any reimbursement. I just want to be able to stay in my property."

Written by: Nick Dole, ABC News.