Fitzsimons Lane: Nillumbik Council wants greater community involvement

One of Eltham’s busiest thoroughfares is set for a huge upgrade next year, but a Nillumbik councillor is concerned Major Road Projects Victoria is moving the crucial works ahead without involving key community stakeholders.

Traffic lights will replace the Fitzsimons lane and Main Rd roundabout to ease congestion. But a Nillumbik councillor is calling on the State Government to provide greater transparency on the project’s design. Picture: Rob Leeson.

A Nillumbik councillor has lashed out at what he calls a road authority’s “sneaky” attempt to exclude the Eltham community from consultation on a critical road upgrade.

It comes after Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) wrote to the council requesting they agree to a ministerial amendment GC119 for the Fitzsimons Lane upgrade on August 1. Cr Peter Clarke said it meant MRPV wanted to have “unfettered control” over the project.

He said the roads authority would not be required to apply for any planning permits and be exempt from significant heritage overlays in the project space.

But Cr Clarke will put a motion to a Nillumbik Council meeting tonight, demanding the State Government release critical project designs and undertake “proper community consultation”.

“This project is in the Gateway zone of Eltham and what the ministerial amendment GC119 seeks to do is flout every planning principle of the Gateway zone,” Cr Clarke said.

“The government is essentially wanting to be the responsible authority which will allow no third party appeal rights against whatever they decide to do with this huge road project.”

Traffic lights will replace a roundabout at the notorious Fitzsimons Lane and Porter St intersection as part of the Fitzsimons Lane upgrade.

The Fitzsimons Lane upgrade is part of the state government’s $2.2 billion commitment towards improving 14 key roads in Melbourne’s north and south-east.

Traffic lights would replace roundabouts at Main Rd and Porter St, while bus lanes would be converted to all-vehicle use between Porter and Foote streets.

There will also be upgrades to the Foote St intersection, new traffic lights at the Leane Dr intersection, new walking and cycling paths and safety barriers, Construction will start in 2020.

Cr Clarke said the proposed works would destroy the Eltham Gateway zone, including a possible removal of 1000 trees.

“I think they’re (State Government) embarrassed by the impact that this is going to have on the Gateway and writing to the chief executive instead of councillors was sneaky,” he said.

But Eltham state Labor MP Vicki Ward said she would not allow any destruction to the Eltham Gateway.

“The project will ease pressure on Fitzsimons Lane — particularly in peak hour — reducing congestion and delay for more than 60,000 who use it every day,” she said.

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Eltham Gateway Action Group’s Sue Dyett said the group had only just started consulting with MRPV on Monday.

“We would like the opportunity to be positively involved in this process together with Nillumbik Council and Major Roads Project people,” she said.

“It is a project that will have a significant impact within the community, with some people delighted and some people dismayed and others will have no opinion.”

Eltham homeowner Leo Scott said retaining the Eltham Gateway was crucial.

“There are no disputes Fitzsimons Lane and the Main Rd roundabout is a bottleneck, but no authority should have free reign over how to fix it,” he said.

MRPV project director Dipal Sorathia rejected claims there had been no community consultation.

“We’ve heard from hundreds of residents as well as local councils including Nillumbik, Manningham and Banyule as we refine the designs of the Fitzsimons Lane upgrade,” he said.

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