Yallambie family upset over Borlase Reserve demolition to make way for North East Link

When the George family bought their Yallambie house, they fell in love with the adjoining park. Now the reserve is set to be bulldozed to make way for the North East Link, and they say they won’t be able to live there without it.

The George family will lose the reserve opposite their house to the North East link. Danniel George with Anna, Samuel and Ryan in the park, with drilling equipment in the background. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Homeowners, businesses and native vegetation will be bulldozed to make way for the $15.8 billion North East Link.

And those affected have been left puzzled by the Environmental Effects Statement, which extends to 10,000 pages.

The statement, which outlines the route of the 26km link connecting the Eastern Freeway to the M80 Ring Rd, lists 102 businesses and 36 properties, 15,800 trees and 52ha of native vegetation that will have to go to make way for the link.

BULLEEN BUSINESS COMMUNITY FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE

DOZENS OF HOMES, BUSINESSES TO BE BULLDOZED FOR LINK

NORTH EAST LINK HAS STRONG SUPPORT, NELA CLAIMS

Katie and Danniel George bought their house in Borlase St, Yallambie, in 2017 under the assurance Borlase Reserve, which their three children use as a backyard, would not be affected.

Dan with Anna, Samuel and Ryan in the park opposite their house which is set to be acquired to make way for the North East Link. Picture: Mark Dadswell

But the statement showed the reserve will be acquired.

“If the reserve is going, we will be forced to ask the government to acquire our house because it will be unlivable,” Mrs George said.

“The kids will be devastated.”

Mrs George said trying to read the statement was hard, with “general navigation of the document was near impossible”.

An exit ramp with a 4m sound wall will also be installed across the street.

“The process has caused me no end of angst and anger,” she said.

Construction will begin late 2021, lasting four years.

Banyule Cr Tom Melican said all owners of properties to be acquired had been notified and urged locals to make submissions to the State Government by June 7.

“Submissions made on the EES will not stop the process or change the route, it will only reduce the damage which will be made by the link,” he said.

Shelley Blake from the North East Link Project said they would be encouraging builders to bring acquisition numbers down further.

The EES statement is online, and hard copies are at Ivanhoe library and Rosanna library.

There will be a specialist talk on April 30 at MCC Kew Sports club from 4pm.