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
