About

Versions of an east west link have existed for a decade.  The current state government of Victoria is determined to build the tunnel and flyovers connecting the eastern freeway with CityLink at Flemington.

You can find details about the proposed $8b project on the Linking Melbourne site .

The daily Blog is to inform the community about the East West Link Assessment Committee hearings (which run from 3 March).

The blog is contributed to by a coalition of community groups all appearing before the Assessment Committee to present the numerous arguments against this project.

Over 1500 submissions have opposed the East West Link and fewer than a dozen have supported it. 260 people have asked to be heard – and they have been allocated 5 to 10 minutes during the process.

Social media gives the community a new tool to ensure their voice is effective and that this freeway proposal is stopped – like so many other bad ideas in the past.

The Victorian Government is trying to bulldoze through approval for the East West freeway with a rushed and inadequate process.

OUR KEY CONCERNS:

1. The CIS does not properly assess the major impacts this project will have on communities, hitting parkland, schools, sports groups and residents.

2. Much of the information supplied by the LMA is inaccurate or inconsistent and fails to properly measure these impacts.

3. The CIS conclusions are not supported by independent experts and transport alternatives have been ignored.

4. The panel should recommend permits not be issued as the CIS is completely inadequate, rushed and fails to consider alternative designs and the impact of possible public transport upgrades

5. The CIS fails to meet the requirements of planning and transport legislation

This Blog is edited by Rose Iser, Petra Stock and Andrew Herington on behalf of the coalition of community groups appearing before the East West CIS Assessment Committee.

Please get in touch if you have any queries, tips or feedback.