North East Link route Corridor A gets nod

VICTORIA is to build the North East Link in 2020 at a cost of $16.5 billion, making it the state’s most expensive toll road ever. But the mammoth project will affect at least 75 homes and 130 businesses.

VICTORIA is to build the North East Link in 2020 at a cost of $16.5 billion, making it the state’s most expensive toll road ever.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced his government’s preferred route for the road, three days after a Cabinet subcommittee leak.

But he revealed the project would cost much more than the earlier $8 billion estimate.

NORTH EAST LINK ROUTE SLAMMED BY BANYULE COUNCIL

FEARS HOMES WILL BE LOST IN NORTH EAST LINK PROJECT

He admitted that it was a “significant investment” for the state, but said Victoria could wait no longer for the 26km northern link to be built.

The tolled route will connect the M80 in Greensborough with the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen Rd.

It will run south alongside Greensborough Rd to Lower Plenty Rd in Rosanna, where it will go underground for 5km before re-emerging next to Bulleen Rd and connecting to the freeway via an overpass.

Corridor A gets the nod.

The Eastern Freeway will also be upgraded, to seven lanes in some parts. Express lanes will be built between Bulleen Rd and Springvale Rd.

The mammoth project will affect at least 75 homes and 130 businesses, but not all of them will be acquired.

Doorknocking began on Thursday night.

“For some residents, this will be very difficult news,” Mr Andrews said.

The government will take the project to next year’s election, so Victorians can give it the green light before contracts are signed.

Mr Andrews said: “At 5km, it will be the longest tunnel in our road network. Yes, $16.5 billion is a significant investment, but it is one that we simply have to make.”

Recent public consultation by the North East Link Authority showed overwhelming public support for the road.

However, the price tag has raised concern, especially after Mr Andrews emphatically ruled out tolling the Eastern Freeway to pay for it. Industry and the state Opposition are sceptical that the government can pay for the road without the tolling.

Mr Andrews, who in May refused to accept $15 million from Canberra to develop a business case for the missing road link, called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to deliver more infrastructure funding to assist.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester said neither the federal government nor the independent Infrastructure Australia had seen a business case, or detailed planning of routes.

“It’s just disappointing that, in typical Daniel Andrews fashion, he has thrown a brick through the window of the federal government with a ransom note attached, demanding money.

“This is the same bloke who paid more than $1 billion not to build the East West Link that Victoria needs.

“But we are ­willing, despite that, to ­consider any project that will help improve serious congestion issues,” he said.

A spokesman for the federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, said the ­announcement highlighted the need for the East West Link, which was still the Turnbull Government’s priority.

Traffic banked up on Bulleen Rd trying to get onto the Eastern Freeway. Picture: David Caird

Mr Andrews said the business case and a design, which would be completed in the coming months and released next year, would stack up.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said it was outrageous that the cost of the road was already on the rise.

“A few days ago, Daniel Andrews said it was $13 billion. Now he says $16.5 billion,” Mr Guy said.

“This is the quickest and biggest cost blowout ever.”

Both the RACV and the Victorian Transport Association support the road link.

But RACV public policy general manager Bryce Prosser said it would study the details — the cost, amenity and the impact on the community — before deciding if the bigger budget was money well spent.

“We’ve always been a strong advocate of the need for the North East Link, not only for Melbourne but also for Victorians,” he said.

“RACV is going to have a really close look at this. We have been a really strong advocate for the project — it is our No.1 project — but what we need to do is have a look at the details to see whether it does stack up.”

Bulleen Rd traffic. Picture: David Caird

Victorian Transport Association CEO Peter Anderson said the road would improve efficiency for the transport and logistics industry.

The association has predicted that 30-40 per cent of heavy vehicles would opt to use the new link, rather than the Yarra tunnels.

“We will now get a free flow from one side of the city to the other,” Mr Anderson said.

The proposed plan will have an impact on three state seats: Mr Guy’s seat of Bulleen, Labor MP Colin Brooks’s electorate of Bundoora, and Ivanhoe, also held by a Labor MP, Anthony Carbines.

Mr Andrews denied that the preferred route would cost Mr Carbines his seat in the 2018 election.

Mr Carbines said the road was a project that people were “desperate” to see happen.

Families, businesses devastated

Lawrence and Adrienne Osellame will be loosing their home of 40 plus years. Picture: Jason Edwards

“HEARTBROKEN” residents and business owners in Melbourne’s northeast have railed against plans to drive a new toll road through their suburbs.

The state government announced yesterday that 75 homes — about 30 of them owned by VicRoads — and 140 business would be affected by the North East Link.

Residents received letters about 8pm on Thursday, before the Premier’s announcement yesterday morning.

Some were told their properties were “unlikely” to be acquired, while others were hit with the news that their homes they “may be”.

Lawrence and Adrienne Osellame of Boyd St in Greensborough received a “may be” letter.

“You can own your home but they can just take it off you,” Mrs Osellame said.

“They’ve said we’ve got no choice. For us, it is devastating and upsetting. It is 40 years of hard work.”

Their home is one of two “maybes” in the street.

Just up the road, Tamara Koelmeyer was told her property was unlikely to be ­acquired. But she said it was cold comfort.

“I really believe the wording ‘unlikely’ means it is still possible,” she said.

“We’re devastated, gutted and angry about the lack of consultation.

North East link representatives speak to residents in Boyd Street Greensborough. Picture: Jason Edwards

“I have plants in my garden — a maple tree — planted by my sister who has since died.

“They are ripping out the total essence of our homes.”

Representatives from the North East Link were canvassing the area yesterday to speak to concerned residents.

They received a cold reception from some Boyd St householders.

Amy and Peter McKellar, who live nearby, were left in “limbo” when most neighbours in their street were told that their homes were on the chopping block.

They have not heard anything about their fate but a neighbour was reportedly told by a North East Link representative that a concrete wall would be built 30m from their boundary.

“It’s very concerning,” Ms ­McKellar said.

“You find out you aren’t going to get bought out but you’re going to have a huge concrete wall — what’s worse?

“We bought because it’s leafy and quiet. I wake up and can hear the birds chirping, but that’s gone.

“Who’s going to want to buy a home at the back of a frickin’ freeway?”

Bruce and Meredith Plain have owned Bulleen Art and Garden on Manningham Rd for 35 years.

They’re three years into a 21-year lease on the property — a site earmarked for an ­interchange.

Mr Plain said they would “fight” to stay, fearing the business wouldn’t survive a move.

“We’ve been pumping sh.tloads of cash in for the last three years, assuming we’ll be here for the next 20,” Mr Plain said. “To replicate the nursery and art gallery or recreate it somewhere else — and get our customers to move with us — that would all be enormously difficult.”

- Monique Hore