Stop me, oh, stop me. Stop me if you think that you’ve heard this one before

Following up from last weeks update concerning North East Link, if you have a spare ten minutes you can make it count *right now* – we have until 5pm Monday 18 September! See below for ideas, links & where to send your feedback.

Read more: Zombie Project hidden in North East Link Option A?

Please contact us (info@ycat.org.au) if you know of any upcoming local events, tips, corrections, contributions and please share this with fellow residents and local groups.

1. North East Link: What we know – There are four proposed routes:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-08/north-east-link-four-corridor-options-compared/8782898

https://jointheconversation.northeastlink.vic.gov.au/shape-north-east-link

https://jointheconversation.northeastlink.vic.gov.au/corridorA

Of immediate concern to Melbourne’s inner north residents is the proposed Option A: the shortest, most direct and, almost certainly, the cheapest – connecting to the Eastern Freeway.

Impacts:

• Up to ten years of construction along the Eastern Freeway,
• More congestion, pollution and noise for the inner suburbs,
• Possibility of the Eastern Freeway being tolled,
• More traffic into the Eastern Freeway – is this building the case, by stealth, for yet another version of the East West Link, to potentially connect with proposed West Gate Tunnel?
• Proposed Option A route is through environmentally sensitive areas (one of Melbourne “green wedges’) and will severely impact upon numerous homes, businesses and heritage areas in Bulleen, Bellevue, Balwyn North, Kew East.
• Possible removal of the Doncaster Rail reserve along Eastern Fwy and future East Kew and Bulleen Station sites.

From Say NO to North East Link Option A​: There can be no tunnelled connection to the Eastern Freeway due to the steep grades (about 8%) that would be required to take a tunnel under the Eastern Freeway, then pop up and connect to it prior to Doncaster road. There can be no tunnel portal south of Bolin Bolin/Marcellin, as the flyover ramps would still have the same problem. All possible connections to the Eastern Freeway are above ground and involve property acquisitions in Bulleen/Balwyn North.

Additional information: Samantha Dunn​ – The North East Link Just Won’t Work

At $10-$23 billion, the North East Link will be Victoria’s most expensive road ever but:

• Another new toll road just encourages more cars
• This road will divide communities no matter which route
• Traffic will be funnelled to a few on-ramps, creating congestion
• Trucking companies will avoid the tolls and rat-run through our neighbourhoods.
• Sensitive environmental areas and cultural sites will be damaged
• Oversized trucks and dangerous goods will still use Rosanna Road as they will be banned from tunnels.

The Solution

• Investing in a public transport system that works is the best way to get cars off the road and decrease congestion:
• Our money is better spent on public transport improvements such as:
• Duplicating the Hurstbridge line
• Better, quicker signalling on Hurstbridge and Mernda lines
• More frequent and better connected bus services
• Public transport won’t carve up the Green Wedge or Banyule Flats

2. Make your North East Link feedback by 5pm, 18 September 2017

Note: email address required to register

https://jointheconversation.northeastlink.vic.gov.au/corridor-options

https://jointheconversation.northeastlink.vic.gov.au/take-our-quick-survey

More contact information: http://northeastlink.vic.gov.au/about/contact

3. Have another five minutes? Please email your North East Link feedback & concerns to the following:

Yarra City Council​: please mention Yarra Councils strong advocacy for Doncaster Rail during their Trains Not Toll Roads campaign against East West Link (2013-2015)  Email: info@yarracity.vic.gov.au, crs@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Member for Melbourne: Ellen Sandell, Ph: 9328 4637, Email: ellen.sandell@parliament.vic.gov.au

Member for Richmond: Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne, Ph: 9415 8901, Email: Richard.wynne@parliament.vic.gov.au

Jenny Mikakos Ph: 9462 3966, Email: jenny.mikakos@parliament.vic.gov.au

Greg Barber Ph: 9348 2622, Email: greg.barber@parliament.vic.gov.au

Fiona Patten Ph: 9386 4400, Email: fiona.patten@parliament.vic.gov.au