From Nicola Rivers’s blog at the Environment Defender’s Office.

We didn’t think it was possible, but the fast-tracking of transport projects just got faster. Laws were passed last week amending the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 which will make it easier again to rush through transport projects in Victoria.

The laws are nominally aimed at the East-West freeway link, but will apply to any transport project the Premier declares to be ‘major’ in Victoria.

We were concerned about the original Act when it passed in 2009 because it put all environmental approvals in the hands of the Planning Minister, did not contain clear requirements for what proponents had to do to be assessed; and reduced the rights of the community to participate. Continue Reading…