North East Link protesters accused of using scare tactics in battle to stop Bulleen route

PROTESTERS against one of the proposed North East Link routes through Bulleen have been accused of scaring homeowners into thinking their properties will be bulldozed if it gets the green light.

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THE North East Link Authority has called on police to investigate protesters they say are using scare tactics in their battle against the proposed route through Bulleen.

The authority says concerned residents have contacted them worried they will lose their homes after being doorknocked by protesters.

Authority chief executive Duncan Elliott said while all four options for the link would involve property acquisitions, the authority could not confirm if individual properties were in the firing line until more detailed planning had been done.

“With any of the corridors there’ll be some acquisition and our job is to minimise it, and we’ve been very clear about that,” he said.

“We’re at the very early stage of engagement and we want to give the community the chance to understand the problems we’re trying to fix but also we’re doing it in a way to minimise impact to the community.”

The four routes proposed for the North East Link.

Mr Elliott said the authority did not know who the protesters were but wanted police to investigate.

Say NO To North East Link Option A founder Lorrae Willox said her group had been collecting signatures for a petition opposing Option A — which runs from Greensborough to Bulleen — as well as encouraging people to engage with their Facebook page.

But Ms Willox said the group had not told individuals they would lose their home.

“We are telling them the North East Link has admitted there’ll be compulsory acquisitions but we can’t tell people their homes will be acquired because we have no knowledge of that,” she said.

Say NO To North East Link Option A group members say they have not been telling people their homes will be acquired. Picture: Ellen Smith

Four possible corridors for the road were announced last month with the North East Link Authority consulting members of the public about each option.

Police media spokeswoman Belinda Batty said police were aware of the situation but had detected no offence.