St Kilda Rd residents urge Metro rail project to dig deeper to save trees

AN ALLIANCE of St Kilda Rd residents is urging the Metro tunnel rail authority to dig deeper to save hundreds of trees lining the city’s celebrated boulevard.

A group of residents want a deeper rail tunnel to avoid damage along the tree-lined St Kilda Rd. Picture: Jason Sammon

RESIDENTS along St Kilda Rd are urging the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority to dig deep to save hundreds of trees lining the famous boulevard.

The Save St Kilda Rd group wants a deeper rail tunnel to avoid damage along the tree-lined road and in Kings Domain, Alexandra Park, and parkland surrounding the Shrine of Remembrance.

“Deep construction means less destruction,’’ organiser Marilyn Wane said.

The group represents residents of apartment complexes including Hallmark, Royal Domain Plaza, Botanica, Promenade and Princeton.

Ms Wane said the Domain Interchange, which was rebuilt in 2013 at a cost of $10 million, would be ripped out and rebuilt, and construction of the Domain station and the tunnel would disrupt local businesses and commuters.

She said the group supported the project, but wanted a change to the construction method to alleviate the chaos, especially between Dorcas St and Toorak Rd.

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Disruption to St Kilda Rd would reduce traffic to one lane in each direction and result in trams being diverted.

Melbourne Metro Rail Authority spokesman Peter De Luca said that in preparing an environmental effects statement, it had consulted widely since early last year, drawing on expert advice and seeking input from the public and interested parties.

“The best engineering and urban planning expertise has helped guide our construction plans,’’ he said.

Sacha Fenton, speaking for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, said: “There will be years of disruption during construction, but the benefits for Melbourne will last decades.’’

The Metro tunnel was Australia’s most important transport infrastructure project, she said, and “it will create the turn-up-and-go train network a world-class city deserves”.

It is believed the alternative deep-mining method of construction for the Domain station site would require that a significant part of St Kilda Rd be excavated.

The Save St Kilda Rd group will appear at a hearing that is examining the environmental impacts of the $11 billion cross-city rail project, and which began this week.

Two 9km rail tunnels will link South Yarra and South Kensington, and create five new stations through central Melbourne.

Construction is scheduled to begin next year.

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@IanRoyall