Residents want noise barriers for reserve as part of West Gate Tunnel project

TRANSURBAN and the state government have vowed to build noise barriers demanded by residents along a popular reserve as part of the West Gate Tunnel project.

TRANSURBAN and the state government have vowed to build noise barriers demanded by residents along a popular Spotswood reserve as part of the West Gate Tunnel project.

There are no noise walls beside Donald McLean Reserve near the West Gate Freeway.

Residents had repeatedly asked if the $5.5 billion project could include them to protect the reserve and neighbouring Westgate Golf Club.

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At a community liaison group meeting in February, Western Distributor Authority project team member Gary West acknowledged community requests for noise walls at sports fields, saying a number of these were already installed alongside the West Gate Freeway.

However Mr West said the project only required noise walls to be installed against residential properties.

He said the project team would consider whether any further noise walls were required.

When approached by the Herald Sun this month, project chief executive officer Peter Sammut said new noise walls had now been proposed to the north of Donald McLean Reserve.

An artist impression of the inbound tunnel portal from the upgraded West Gate Fwy.

Sound barriers on Williamstown Road similar to those planned beside Donald McLean reserve.

“The West Gate Tunnel project will give residents in the west some of the best quality noise walls in Melbourne,” Mr Sammut said.

“A stringent noise standard has been set for the West Gate Tunnel project, which will see brand new noise walls for residents next to Donald McLean Reserve.

“New noise walls will provide a welcome buffer between residents and freeway traffic, allowing them to spend more time in their yards and making it easier to sleep at night.”

Mr Sammut said the exact height and location of the noise walls would be determined as part of the project’s environment effects statement.

Residents are adamant the walls must stretch along the entire length of Donald McLean Reserve.

When the M1 was widened in 2013, acoustics consultants advising Transurban and Scotch College worked together to develop a noise wall solution.

Due to open in 2022, the West Gate Tunnel project will link the West Gate Freeway to CityLink with twin tunnels under Yarraville.

The sound walls would be similar to those already at Scotch College. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

The sound walls would be similar to those already at Scotch College. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

The tunnels, providing an alternative route between the West Gate Freeway and the CBD, was adopted by Premier Daniel Andrews after being proposed by tolling giant Transurban.

Under the proposed deal between Transurban and the government, the tolling giant would pay two-thirds of the road cost upfront, with the rest coming from state coffers.

In return, Transurban would get to keep toll revenue from the tunnels, as well as an extra decade of CityLink tolls.

@AndyJeffo