West gate tunnel EES Group Submission From Don’t Destroy ...€¦ · Millers Road contains a mix...
Transcript of West gate tunnel EES Group Submission From Don’t Destroy ...€¦ · Millers Road contains a mix...
WestgatetunnelEESGroupSubmissionFromDon’tDestroyMillersRd.
OpeningStatementOneoftheWestgatetunnelproject’smainobjectivesisto‘reducefreightandimprovesafetyonlocalstreets’,toimprovelocalairqualityandareductionofnoise.AsagroupofconcernedBrooklynandAltonaNorthresidents,webelieve4ofthe5themeswithintheEES–TrafficandTransport,PhysicalEnvironment,Humanhealthandamenity,andCommunityhavebeencompletelyoverlooked.WebelievethisprojectisdetrimentaltothecommunitiesoftheentireInnerWest,butinparticularBrooklynandAltonaNorthinHobsonsBay.
MinisterforRoadsandRoadSafetyLukeDonnellanisquotedassaying:“We’velistenedtothecommunityeverystepofthewayonthisproject,deliveringthe24/7truckbansthattheInnerwesthasbeencallingfortomakeresidentialstreetssaferandquieter”.AndtheEESstatesareoccurringmantra–‘designedtorelievetrafficpressure’and‘removetrucksfromresidentialareas’.
AsresidentsoftheInnerWest,werecognisetheneedtoprovidebetteraccesstotheCBDandPortofMelbourne,toreducethenegativeimpactsofheavyvehicletrafficontheInnerWestresidentialareasandtoimprovetheefficiencyoffreightmovements.
However,fromtheinformationanddatareleasedaspartoftheEES,wedonotbelievetheWestGateTunnelProjectinitscurrentdesignandplanningmeetstheproject’sobjectives.ThisprojectwillnotremovetrucksfromtheInnerWest,itwillsimplyshiftthemfromtheCityofMaribyrnongtotheCityofHobsonsBay.
IntroductiontoBrooklynBrooklynisanindustrialandresidentialsuburbsituatedaroundGeelongRoad11kmwestofcentralMelbourne.Aresidentialwedgewaslaidoutintheearlypostwaryears,whichnowsitsbetweenTheWestgateFreewaytotheSouth,GeelongRoadtotheNorth,andMillersRoadtotheEast.TodayBrooklynhas1,951residents.
Table1–AgespreadofBrooklynandAltonaNorthResidentsLandholderJamesCherrybuiltBrooklynLodgeinthe1800s.TheGuidingStarhotelandtheHalfMoonhotelsstood,andtherestofthelandwasusedforfarmingandgrazing.Thetownshiphadapostofficeandaschoolbuiltin1882.
AcommonmisconceptionisthatBrooklynhasalwaysbeenanindustrialarea.Infact,industrystartedmovinginatleast20to40yearsafterthefarminghadbegunwithquarries,andmeatprocessingplantsandthepigmarketmovingtoBrooklynin1938.AmigranthostelwasconstructedonMillersroadwhereanumberofwarehousesnowstandin1949.HundredsoffamiliesgottheirstartinAustraliathere.TheHostelhadalargenumberofBritishMigrants,anditwasherethattheyfirstformedtheBritishMigrant’sAssociation.MembersworkedtogethertoconstructtimberhouseframesinawoolshedatBrooklyn,beforeassemblingthemonhousesites.
TheCouncilQuarry,Brooklyn1912BrooklynMigrantHostelThedemandfromthehostelbroughtontheconstructionofanewBrooklynStateSchoolin1953andoperateduntiltheearly90s.TheBrooklynWestSchoolwasopenedin1960.ResidentialBrooklynwasthriving.Theclosureofthehostelforfamilyaccommodationin1967andthelossofhousesforconstructionoftheWestgateFreewaygreatlyreducedthelocalpopulation,andtheschoolclosed.BrooklynoncestretchedtoaroundBlackshawsRoadbeforethenewfreewaycarvedtheneighbourhoodinhalf.TheCatholicAnnunciationSchoolbuiltin1958stillstandstodayandisnowtheonlyschooloperatinginBrooklyn.Anewchildcarecentre–ShinechildcarehasjustopenedonGeelongRoad,asdemandisgrowinginaneverchangingdemographic.TheHalfmooncaravanparkwhichoperatedonthecornerofMillersRoadandFrancisStreet,wasrecentlydemolishedinwayforanewmodernwarehousefacility.FundamentaltoBrooklynandAltonaNorth’sfunctionalityandliveabilityisMillersRoad.Itisthemainthoroughfareandconnectionofoursuburbstothemajorityofouramenities.MillersRoadcontainsamixofresidentialandcommercialproperties,parks,schools,churches,medicalpractitioners,andsmallbusinesses.ItisalsothehometoCherryLake,AltonaNorthLibrary,AltonaGateShoppingcentre,MillersCornershoppingcomplex,BorrackSq,&the16shops.Don’tDestroyMillersRoadDon’tDestroyMillersRoadareagroupofresidentsfromBrooklynandAltonaNorth.Wewereformedwithsharedconcernsofthemanynegativehealth,safety,socialandcongestionproblemsbroughtonbythisproject.ThereleaseoftheEESbroughtnoconfidenceintheWestGateTunnelProjectforthesecommunities,whomhavebeenleftwithenormousfearanddoubttothenegativeimpactthisprojectwillhaveonus.Thisgroupsubmissionreflectscommunityfeedback.ThemainconcernsarearoundMillersRoadinBrooklynandAltonaNorth,andBlackshawsRoadinAltonaNorth.
SubmissionWebelievethatBrooklynandAltonaNortharetobethemostseverelyaffectedsuburbsifthisprojectistogoahead,itwillcontributetothemanyexistingchallengesandproblems,particularlyinthethreeareasofhealth,safetyandtrafficcongestion.Weopposethisproject,asitoffersnopositivecontributiontotheresidentsofHobsonsBay.Theprojectshouldnotbeawardedwithplanningapprovalduetothenumerousbreachesofhealthandsafety.Theme1:TrafficandTransportTheWestGateTunnelauthorityclaimstheprojectwouldremove9,300trucksperdayoffresidentialstreetsintheInnerWest.HowevertheEEScontradictsthisstatementwiththefactthat7,000truckswillbeaddedtoMillersRoadalone,thatisanincreaseof147%,aswellasastaggeringincreaseof271%inheavycommercialvehiclestoBlackshawsRoad.
Table2–IncreasedtrafficonlocalroadsduetoWGTPMinisterforRoadsandRoadSafetyLukeDonnellanbelievesthatMillersroadwasdesignedtocarrylargenumbersoftrucksandheavyvolumesoftraffic.
Thisisamisleadingstatement,Millersroadwasnotdesignedasamajortruckingroute.Itwasfirstatwo-wayroad,thenwidenedandstrengthenedwithconcreteduringthewarasapotentialemergencyrunway.Eventhoughtruckshavebeenusingitformanyyearsnow,MillersRoadwasnotdesignedwithintentiontocarry14,800trucksaday.
Atthepresentlevelof4,500trucksperday,MillersRoadisalreadystretchedtoitsmaximumcapacityandthreatensthesafetyoflocalresidents.ManyresidentshavegraveconcernsaboutthedangerofcrossingMillersRoadonadailybasis.
TurningWestontotheWestgateFreewaycantakeuptofourcyclesormorebeforeyoucangetthrough.OneBdoubletruckwouldbeluckytomakeitbeforethelightsturnedamber.TurningrightoutoftheresidentialstreetsthatrunoffMillers,youencounterthesameproblem.14,800trucksperdaywillbringtheroadtoacompletestandstill.
AddingtothisenormousincreasetoMillersRoad,combinedwithanincreaseof37,000truckstoTheWestgateFreeway,andasignificantincreasetoGeelongroadwillcompletelycutofftheresidentsfromeverythingandeveryone.
TheBrooklynresidentialareawillbesurroundedandentrappedbyanendlessstreamofnoise,pollution,vibrationandgridlock.
Furthertothiscongestion,theredevelopmentoftheDonsSmallgoodssiteinBlackshawsRoad–Precinct15,andtheBradmillssiteinFrancisStreet–Precinct17,willbringinguptoanadditional12,000residentswhosemainaccesstotheWestGateFreewaywillbeMillersandWilliamstownRoad.
OncePrecinct15iscompleted,HBCCmodellingpredictsthefollowing:
BlackshawsRoad125%increaseof800vehiclesintheAMpeakhourbetweenMillersRoadandKyleRoad32%increaseof325vehiclesinthePMpeakhourbetweenMillersRoadandKyleRoadMillersRoad12%increaseof285vehiclesintheAMPeakHour28%increaseof675vehiclesinthePMPeakHourMelbourneRoad=-175vehicles(8.5%decrease)intheAMPeakHourand-200vehicles(7%decrease)inthePMPeakHour.
Table3–IncreasedtrafficonlocalroadsduetoPrecinct15
ThefiguresprovidedbythisstudyarebasedontheunconfirmedMelbourneMetro2project,assumingitwillbeoperatingwithcapacitytoshiftasignificantamountofcommutersontorail.ItalsodoesnottakeintoaccounttheincreasefromPrecinct17.
TheWGTPhasnotfiguredtheincreasesfromtheabovementionedprecinctredevelopmentsintoitstrafficmodelling.TheactualimpactoftheWGTPisacompletecontradictiontotheEESstatementofmakingtheresidentialareassafer,quieterandlesspolluted.WehavesignificantconcernsthattheestimatedincreaseintrafficfromtheWGTPisenormouslyunderstated.
Melbourneisaglobalcitythatpridesitselfonbeingtheworldsmostliveable.ItseemsthattheWGTPplanningauthoritieshavenotproperlyexploredothertransportoptionssuchasnewandimprovedtrainlinesintheinnerwest.
ThemajorityofthemajorandmostrecognisedcitiesaroundtheworldfromNewYorktoLondon,ParistoTokyoetcallhaveefficientandmoderntrain/metrolinesthatservicethecityanditssurroundingsuburbs.Melbourne’strainsystembycomparisonisslow,crowded,vulnerableandveryoutdated,especiallyinthewest.
Thewesternsuburbsareoutpacingtheinfrastructureprovidedatanastronomicalrate.Theroadsarecrowded,underseverestress,andalreadyatbreakingpoint.AreaslikePointCook,andWyndhamareseeingunprecedentedgrowth.DuetoaverycrowdedWerribeeline,commutersrelyondrivingastheironlyrealisticoption.
UKTransportexpertDrWilliamMcDougallalsohasstatedthattheEESprojectionsfortransportgrowthareincorrectandunderestimated.
WedonotendorsetheWestgateTunnelProjectduetoitsinadequateplanningandflaweddesign,withnopositivecontributiontoourcommunitiesexceptsomeimprovedlightingandfootpaths.HowevershouldtheplanningpermitbegranteddespitetheprovennegativeimpactandmajortrafficincreasestoHobsonsBayandtheInnerWest:
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsforacompletetruckbanonMillersRoadunlesstheyhaveanoriginordestinationinBrooklynorAltonaNorth,andacompletetruckbanduringtheconstructionperiod.
Constructadedicatedon/offrampwithdirectlinkstoSomervilleRoadatanimprovedTottenhamParade,CemeteryRoadandCawleyRoad,aswellasanimprovedGrieveParade,withlinkstotheWesternRingRoad,DohertysroadandthePrincessFreeway.
ConstructanewNorth/SouthconnectionunderthefreewaytolinkthetwosidestogetheratPrecinct15andPrecinct17
TheWGTPdoesnotmeetthevisionofthefutureofintegratedcityandtransportplanning.Theliveability,health,functionality,economicandsocialimpactsaredevastatingtoBrooklynandAltonaNorth.BrooklynisoneofMelbourne’smostdisadvantagedsuburbswhenitcomestopublictransport.Weneedpublictransportsuchastrainsandbuses,notagridlocked,tolledtunnelthatencouragesdependencyoncarsandtrucks.
Thelimitedamountsofbusesthatserviceourcommunitiesarefrequentlylateandunreliable.Forcingthemtocompeteforspacewith14,800trucksperdaywillfurtherexacerbatetheproblem.Atotalpercentageof3.4%ofresidentsfromBrooklynusebusservices.Membersofthecommunityshowalackofconfidenceinthebusservices,as“thebusservicesareslow,unreliableandit’seasiertojustdrive.”
Atotalpercentageof70.3%ofpeoplefromBrooklyndrivetowork.
Table4–Methodoftravel
TheWGTPstatesthatthenewtunnelandelevatedroadswillconnectpeopleoftheWestwithjobsandservices,withgrowthandproductivity.
Itisestimatedthatupto3,500vehiclesperhourwillusethecityboundelevatedFootscrayRoadtoaccessthecity.Amainsellingpointoftheproject’sadvertisingis‘asecondrivercrossing’.Thisisinaccurate;theriverthattheWGTPsectioncrossesisnottheYarra,buttheMaribyrnong.ThisisnotanalternativetotheWestgateBridge,ratheranotherbridgedeliveringthousandsofvehiclestoNorthMelbourneandtheDocklands.
Thiswillnotreducetraveltimes;itwilljustclogthearea,causingdelaystothelocalroadandtramnetworks.Theproject’scostof$5.5billionand12yearsofextendedtollstomotoristsoftheexistingCitylinkroadsisanenormouspricetopayforsomethingthatwilldeliversolittleeconomicandpracticalreturn.TheEastWestlinkwillstillneedtobeconstructedandtheM1corridorwillstillbecongested.
TheWGTPisnotaprojectthatisidentifiedasapriorityofInfrastructureVictoria.Theprojectisveryflawed.TraveltimesareactuallypredictedtoincreasewiththeWGTP.
Table5–TraveltimeswithandwithouttheWGTP
Thetrafficreportcommissionedin2006andcompiledbySirRodEddingtonspecificallystatesthatnewroadsshouldnotdelivermoretraffictotheCBD.
BrooklynandAltonaNortharegrowingsuburbs,theroadsarebecomingmorecongested,asgreaternumbersoffamiliesmovein.Largeblocksthatoncecontained2or3people,arebeingknockeddownandreplacedwith4dwellingshousing8ormoreintotal.Withthiscomesincreasedpressureforparkingandcongestiononthelocalroads.
Table6–DifferenttypesofDwellingsinBrooklynandAltonaNorth
Itisnotunusualforeachdwellingtocontain2ormorevehicles.
Table7–Householdvehicles
ConstructingtheWGTPandaddingsubstantialamountsoftrucksandvehiclestolocalroadswillonlyleadtounsustainablecongestionandtheproblemsthatcomewithit.
Onepassengertraincanremove525carsfromtheroad.ThemoneywouldbefarbetterinvestedintheMelbourneMetro2,andputtingfreightontorail.ThisprojectwillnotdeliverresidentsofMelbourne’sWestclosertojobs,itwillensurewearefurtherlockedintodependencyonourcars.
ThelackofinformationontollpointssuggeststhefirsttollpointfromthewestwouldbebetweenGrieveParadeandMillersRd,whichwouldencourageratrunningthroughinnerwestresidentialstreets.ThiswouldaffectthesensitivegroupslivingonandaroundMillersRdandBlackshawsRd.Seefigurebelow.
Table8–Brooklyn&AltonaNorthresidentsconsideredtobeinthesensitivecategoryDon’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsfornotollsontheWestgateFreeway,andtoreduceratrunningthroughourlocalstreetsandlawenforcementtomonitorandpenaliseratrunning.Changessincesubmissionlodged:TheannouncementofthePortRailShuttleputbackontheagenda,ThebanningoftrucksonBlackshawsRoadandHudsonsRoad,TherecommendationofremovingthetollpointbetweenGrievePdandMillersRdAlloftheabovechangesarepositiveandshowthatthereisahighlevelofunsatisfiedcommunitymemberswhoareveryworriedaboutthisproject.ThePortRailShuttleisavitalinfrastructureprojectforMelbourneandVictoriaandhasthefullsupportofourcommunitygroup.WebelievethattheWGTPdoesnotmeettheobjectiveofremovingtrucksfromourlocalroads,howeverthePortRailShuttleprojectdoes,inafarmoreefficientandenvironmentallybeneficialmanner.Astwoofthethreehubsaresegregatedfromthemetropolitantrainnetwork,thiscanbeimplementedwithoutaffectingcommuters.TheDandenonghubwouldneedfurtherinvestmentinupgradingthetracks,butthisismoneywellspentandvitalforfutureproofingpublictransportinagrowingarea.Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsforanimmediateinquiryintohowthePortRailShuttleProjectwillaffectthebusinesscasefortheWGTP,anddoesInfrastructureVictoriadeemittobemoneybetterspentThenewlyannouncedtruckbansonBlackshawsRoadandHudsonsRoadareastepintherightdirectiontomeetingtheEESobjectivesofremovingtrucksfromlocalroadsandhasthesupportofourgroup.HoweverwestillhavegraveconcernsforMillersroadandworrythatitisstillbeingaskedtotakethelion’sshareofthetrafficincreasesforthisproject.Thebanswillnotremovetrucks,theywillaideinredistributingthemontoMillersandGeelongRoad.WecallforMillerstostillbeincludedinthesebans.
ThetollpointremovalbetweenGrieveandMillersisalsosupportedbyourgroup,asithasbeenestimatedtoreducetheincreasedtrucknumbersonMillersroadfrom7,000to4,000.However,anincreaseof4,000trucksperdayistilltoohighandbringsthesamedisadvantagesandproblems,beitatareducedlevel.ItisyettobeseenhowwellMillersroadcouldhandlesuchanincrease,butatcurrentlevelsof4,500trucksperday,plusthethousandsofcars,ourmemberscanattesttothefactwearealreadypresentedwithadifficultandproblematicdailystruggletoenterandexisttheroad,andjustunderdoublingthisamountwillnotbeaminorchange.WebelieveMillersroadshouldbeexpectedtocarrythesecurrentamountshowever.IhaveyettohearaconvincingargumentastowhytheWestgateFreewayistobetolled.Ithasanegativeaffectonthetransportcompaniesbigandsmall,andappearstobeforonereasononly–tofundthenewtunnelproject.AsTransurbanareaprivatecompany,andthisisanunsolicitedbid,wedonotbelievetheyhavetherighttotakeaFreewaywhichwealreadyfundandputatollonit.Transurbanwillreceiveallofthesignificantamountoftollrevenuethatwillflowfromthisprojectformanyyearstocome,whyshoulditbeattheexpenseoftruckdriversandtransportcompanies?Don’tDestroyMillersRoadagaincallsfornotollsontheWestgateFreewayatanypointandlawenforcementtomonitorandpenaliseratrunning.Theme2:PhysicalEnvironmentResidentsofBrooklynandAltonaNorthhaveexistedsidebysidewithindustryforanumberofyears,andattimesithasnotbeeneasy.Anexceptionalamountofefforthasbeenputintobeautifyandimprovethecommunities,suchasanewlyrenovatedparkwithachildren’splaygroundandalanewaysprojecttonamejustafew.TheWGTPwilldestroythisestablishedandgrowingcommunity.Itwilllocktheresidentsinandchokethemwithfumes.ThelossofLynchReservefortheconstructionperiod,andthenapermanentreductioninsizeof34%isunacceptable.Brooklynalreadyhasalimitedamountofopengreenspacesasitis.Weseeverylittleintermsofcompensationforthetheftofourcherishedpublicspaces.WilltheresidentsaroundLynchreservehavetoputupwith5yearsofnoiseanddisruption,onlytobeleftwithasmallerandalmostunusablereserve?Whatnoisereductionstrategieswillbeimplementedtoprotectthem?Willtheworkbecarriedoutatunsociablehours?Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsfornoworktobecarriedoutatunsociablehoursatLynchreserve,andforadequatenoiseprotectionbetweentheconstructioncompoundandresidentialareaduringtheconstructionperiod.
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsforimprovementstocrossingsofMillersroadandGeelongRoad,andlightsandimprovedtracksalongtheFederationTrail.
WithanenormousincreaseoftrafficalongGeelongroad,whatimprovementstonoisebarriersandvegetationwillbeinstalledbetweenthehighwayandtheserviceroad?
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsforadequatenoisebarriersandvegetationtoinsulatetheresidentsfromtheincreasednoiseandairpollutionalongGeelongRoadandMillersRd.
Theme3:HumanHealthandamenity
BrooklynisMelbourne’smostpollutedsuburb,andAustralia’s8thmostpollutedsuburb.TheEPAhasinstalledamonitoringstationduetoconstantbreachesbytheindustriesnorthofGeelongroad.BrooklynresidentshavethemostfoulanddisgustingairinVictoria.
EPAairmonitoringreportscanconfirmthePM10levelsinBrooklynalreadyexceedthehealthylevel.Theadditionofover4,000to7,000trucksperdaywillonlyaddtothis.EmergingsciencehaslinkedPM10andPM2.5toreducedlungfunction,increasedratesofasthma,cancerandareductioninlifeexpectancy.TheWestgateTunnelProjectwillincreasethePM2.5levelsby88%andPM10levelsby87%onMillersRoadalone.TheWestgateFreewayitselfispredictedtohaveanincreaseof37,000vehiclesperday,addtothis,theincreasesonMillersRoadandGeelongRoad,andtheWGTPwilleasilybreachitsownPMstandards,andputtheresidentsinimmediateandrealdanger.AnnunciationPrimaryismetresfromMillersroad.Thechildrenwillnowbebreathingindangerousandillegallevelsoftruckfumes5daysaweek.
TheEnvironmentalProtectionAuthority’sOrganisationalStrategystatesaphilosophythatincludes:Vision–AhealthyenvironmentthatsupportsaliveableandprosperousVictoria,nowandalways.
Victoria’sChiefEnvironmentalScientist,DrAndreaHinwoodisanaccomplishedenvironmentalscientist.DrHinwoodhasstudiedtheWGTPEESusingevolvingtechniquestodetectairqualityimpactsrelevanttothisproject.TechnicalreportG–Airquality,statesthat12roadswereselectedtomodelPM2.5andPM10concentrations.Threeoftheselectedroads–TheWestgateFreeway,MillersRoadandGeelongRoadallshowanincreaseinthemaximum24houraverageofPM10concentration,andBlackshawsRoad,MillersRoadandGeelongRoadshowanincreaseforPM2.5.
TheEPAstate-thecurrentdesignalongwiththeproposedtruckbansresultsinaredistributionoftraffic&hencepredictedincreasedairpollutantconcentrations&potentialimpactsalongWGFreeway,BlackshawsRoad,MillersRoad&GeelongRoad.
Wedonobelievethattheimpactofreducedairqualityduringconstructionandoperationonthecommunityhasbeenadequatelyassessed.TheWorldHealthOrganisationrecommendsthatcurrenteffortstoreducethenumbersofUFPsinvehicleemissions,inparticularPM2.5andPM10shouldcontinueastheevidencebeinggatheredbecomesclearertothenegativeeffectstohumanhealth.
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsforpermanentmonitoringstationspositionedonMillersRoad,GeelongRoad,BlackshawsRoadandTheWestGateFreewayandmonitored,reportedandmanagedbyanindependentexpertinthefield,toensurethelegalandsafelevelsofPM2.5andPM10arenotexceededbefore,duringandafterconstruction.Iflevelsarebreached,thenmeasuresandpenaltiesmustbeputinplaceandenforcedtorectifythesituation.Theairqualitymonitoringdatamustbemadeavailabletothepublicinrealtimeonanaccessiblewebsite,andtheprogrammustcontinuethroughplanning,constructionandfiveyearsaftercommencementoftheproject.Themonitoringmustbeinconsultationwithcommunity.Thefollowingpicturedescribestheflowandpollutantdispersionpatternsinastreetcanyonandopenroadwithandwithoutdifferenttypesofvegetation.
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsforavigorousstudyintothenoiseandhealthaffectstheincreasedtrafficwillhaveforthe36propertiesfacingMillersRoad,andsurrounding,andwhatmitigatingmeasurescanbeimplementedtoreduceorremovethesedangerousandinconvenientlevelsoftoxicfumesandnoise.
TheEPAstatesthatnoiseimpactsfromroadsidenoiseisasignificantissue,andpredictednoiselevelsatasmallnumberofbuildingsfacingtheWestGateFreewayarepredictedtoexceedtheprojectnoiseobjective.ThecurrentdesignalongwiththeproposedtruckbansresultinpredictedincreasedroadsidenoiseimpactsforresidentsalongMillersRoad,LynchRoad,DerhamStreetandRailwayplace.ThecurrentnoiselevelofcertainstreetsinBrooklynsuchasPrimulaAvenueandRichardsCourtaccordingtotheEESisapproximately61dBato65dBa,whichwasmeasuredinlinewithVicRoadsnoisepolicywheremeasurementsaretobetakenwithminimalwindconditions.AsthewinddirectionisNWonmostdays,thesoundlevelisfarhigherthanwhathasbeenmeasuredinanowindenvironment.VicRoadspolicystatesthemaximumallowablenoiseistobenomorethan68dBaatwhichtimethenoisewallsareduetobeupgraded.AstheWestgateTunnelisanewproject,whyhaveTransurbanonlydesignedthesoundwallsto63dBawhichtheESSstateswillbeattheirlimitshortlyaftertheprojectiscompletedin2031?Thereisnofutureproofingforincreasedtrafficordurationsofcertainsoundlevels.VicRoadsstatethattheirnoisewallsweredesignedto69dBatatimewherethelevelofnoisewaslow(approximately55dBa).Thisapproachwastakentofutureprooftheinstallationforanincreaseintraffic,whichisnowoveritslifeexpectancy(25yearsforwoodensoundwallsbymanufacture).Ontheotherhand,EPA’snoisecriterionis55dBaduringdaytimeand45dBaduringnightregardlessofwindconditions.ThisisforconstructionnoiseandotherformsofnoisebutwhyistheresuchalargedifferenceinlevelsofpermissiblenoisebetweenEPAandVicRoads?Giventhatdecibelsarelogarithmicthisisalargedifference.DidVicRoadscameupwith68dBaasthisistheaverageroadtrafficat25mfromadistributorroad?TheStateGovernmentandTransurbanhavetheabilitytochoosetodesignat55dBaifdesiredallowingforfutureproofingofthenoisebarrierswhichthisseverelydisadvantagedcommunityneeds.Don’tDestroymillersRoadrequestthattheWestgateTunnelprojectdesignthesoundbarrierstoattenuateto55dBAforoursuburbgivenouruniquesituation.3majorroadssurroundBrooklyn:MillersRd,GeelongRdandtheWestgateFreeway.Nomatterwhichdirectionthepollutedwindblowswearesurroundedbynoise.TheEESalsostatesanincreaseinnoiseforresidentsonMillersRoadofupto4dBaduetothe7,000additionaltrucksadaytheprojectwillfunnelthroughMillersRd.WefeeltheprojecthascateredformanyothersandhavecompletelydisregardedBrooklyninthegrandschemeofthedesign.TheEEShasalsonotaccountedfortheincreaseintrafficforGeelongroad,whichisadirectresultofthisproject.Don’tDestroymillersRoadrequestsoundattenuationtoGeelongroad.TheEESindicatesalargeconstructioncompoundwithinBrooklynlocatedatLynchReservehoweverithasnodetailonthenoisegenerated,trafficroute,ifthiscompoundwillbeboundtoEPArequirementsandhowitwillbemitigatedandpoliced.
TheresidentsaskthatTransurbanandtheStateGovernmentrethinkthedesignaroundtheBrooklyncommunity,whichhasbeenidentifiedinyourowndocumentationasadisadvantagedcommunity.TheobjectiveoftheEESandtheprojectitselfistotaketrucksoffinnerwestlocalstreetsandimprovethelivesoftheadjacentcommunity’s.WhatwehaveseentodatefailsbothofthoseobjectivesandleavesBrooklynasawasteland.AnnunciationPrimaryismetresfromMillersroad.Itisunacceptableforlocalchildrentostudyinanoisyenvironment5daysaweek.EmmanuelcollegeandMarinaagedcarewillfacethesameprobleminBlackshawsRoadAltonaNorth.
Wedonobelievethattheimpactofincreasednoiseduringconstructionandoperationonthecommunityhasbeenadequatelyassessed.
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadagaincallsforatruckbanonMillersRd,andaproperinvestigationintotheactualnoiselevelsexpectedfromtheWGTPonBrooklyn.Changessincesubmissionlodged:NewnoisewallsannouncedforCroftReserve,McIvorReserveandStonyCreekreserve.AquotefromthePremierofVictoriawebsiteregardingnewnoisewalls:‘Indirectresponsetocommunityfeedback,threeadditionalnoisewallstobebuiltalongthebusyWestGateFreewaytothebenefitoflocalfamilies,dogwalkersandsportingclubs.
SomeofthebestnoisewallsinVictoriaarebeingbuiltfortheWestGateTunnelProjectatalevelthatgoesaboveandbeyondthestandardforanexistingmotorway.’AndthisfromMinisterLukeDonnellan:“We’rebuildingsomeofthebestnoisewallsVictoriahaseverseentoreducetrafficnoiseforresidentsandpeopleenjoyingthebeautifulparksandgardensoftheinnerwest.”
“TheWestGateTunnelProjectwillslashthecongestion,taketrucksofflocalroads,andmakeitquieterforpeoplelivingnearby.”
Againwesupporttheseadditions,butweareleftaskingwhyhasMillersRoadbeencompletelyignoredyetagain?Webelievethatlittletonoconsiderationhasstillbeengiventothe36propertiesalongthat1kmstretch,andthoseintheimmediateareaalongthesidestreets.Ifthegovernmentbelieve‘onlythebestnoiseprevention’isrequiredforsomelocalfamilies,dogwalkersandsportsclubs,whydoesitnotextendtotheresidentsofBrooklynandAltonaNorth?Aretheyconsideredlessimportanttothisgovernment?Amenity-ThereductioninqualityoflifeforBrooklynresidentswillbecatastrophic.Wealreadyfaceanumberofproblemswithaccesstopublictransport.Thenearesttrainlinesarenotwithinwalkingdistance,whichmeansresidentswithoutaccesstocarsneedtorelyonbusesorbicycles.Thebuses(411,412and232)thatserviceourcommunityarefrequentlylateanddelayedasaresultofalackofbuslanesandincreasingtraffic.Wecannotseethisimprovingwiththeadditionofeither4,000or7,000trucksperday.
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadcallsforadedicatedservicelaneforbusandemergencypurposeonMillersRdandWestgatefreewaytoensuretheproductivityandefficiencyofthepublictransportsector.ThemajorityofamenitiesfortheBrooklyncommunityareonoraroundMillersRoad,suchasshops,doctorsanddentists,schools,parksandplaygrounds.OurresidentsuseMillersRoadeverydayonmostoccasions.GettingonandoffMillersroadisalreadyproblematicandunsafe;thisprojectwillfurtherexacerbatetheproblemtocrisislevel.WalkingorcyclingtoAltonaGatefromBrooklynisdangerous,asthereisnothingtofacilitateasafecrossing.TherearenolightsorZebracrossings,itisdoneatyourownrisk,andwiththehopethatvehicleswillseeyouandslowaccordingly.CuttingusofffromMillersroadislikeseveringamainartery,MillersRdisoursuburbslifeline.Theme4:CommunitySocial–Brooklynhasverylittleintermsofcafes,cornershops,takeawaysetc.Thevastmajorityofresidentswilltraveltosurroundingsuburbstomeetforacoffee,childcare,kinderandsoforth.TheWGTPwillmaketheseeffortstoestablishacommunityevenharder.ForyearstheBrooklyncommunityhavecalledforacafé/coffeeshopandrestaurantssimilartowhatyoumayfindinYarraville,SeddonorWilliamstown.Weareconcernedaboutthelackofopportunitiestogeneratelong-termlocalbusinessesandjobopportunitieswithinthecommunity.Wefeelthisprojectseemstobeaboutgeneratingmorevehicleswithagreaterrisktotheestablishedcommunityactivities.Norestaurantorcaféownerwouldbepreparedtoopenafacilitysurroundedbynoise,pollution,vibrationsandodours24hoursaday.
Table9–HouseholdIncome
BrooklynisbytheWDA’sownadmissionadisadvantagedsuburb.Brooklynhastraditionallyalwaysbeenaworkingclassarea,somewherewithouttheglitzandglamourofneighboringWilliamstown,ortodayYarravilleandSeddon.Nevertheless,thetimesarechanging;theaveragehouseholdincomeisontherise.
TheBrooklyncommunityhaveformedaprojectgrouptotrybringingasenseofbelongingandtogethernessforallwholivethere.AChristmascarolandmoonlightcinemanightwereheldlastyeartoverypositivefeedback.AlongwiththelanewayandhistoryofBrooklynprojects,thereismuchmoreinstore,includingfoodswapsandcoffeecarts.AchildcarecentreisnowoperatingonGeelongRoad.AlltheseeffortswillbeinvainwhentheWGTPturnsoursuburbintoagridlockedsurroundedandcutoff,desolatewasteland.ConclusionThehighlyflawedandillplannedanddesignedWGTPoffersnopositivecontributiontoBrooklynandAltonaNorth.HobsonsBayCityCouncil,TheCityofPortPhillip,TheCityofYarra,MorelandCityCouncil,ThePlanningInstituteofAustralia,TheRACV,YarraTramsandTheCityofMelbournehaveallbeenhighlycriticaloftheproject,withTheCityofMelbournestating‘Itwillleadtosignificantimpactsthatcannotbeappropriatelymanaged’,andevengoingasfarasdescribingitas‘Adog’sbreakfeast’.
ThePIAstatesthat‘TheWestgateTunnelprojectlacksstrategicjustification’andthat‘theEESdoesnotadequatelydemonstratethattheobjectivesareachievedthroughtheprojectasproposed’.
TheStateLaborgovernmenttookaWesternDistributortothelaststateelection,VictoriaagreedandTheAndrewsGovernmentwasvotedin.AftertakingpowertheyscrappedtheEastWestlinkatacostof$1billionforthefollowingreasons:
Itwasaprivatelyoperatedtollroadthatwasn’ttakentothestateelection,andhadaterriblebusinesscasethatdidn’tstackup.DanAndrewsevendescribeditas‘Adogofaproject’Hequestionedthe$1.40returnforeach$1invested.Intheendhewasrighttodosowithsomereportsemergingitwouldonlyreturn45cforeach$1invested.
TheWestgateTunnelistheexactsamebutwebelievewithanevenworseandlesseconomicallyviablebusinesscasethatwilllockMelbourneintoafurther12yearsoftollsontheexistingCitylinknetwork,andnotimprovecongestionontheM1.
TransurbanhaveworkedoutawaytochargethemajorityofMelbournecommutersforuseonthistollroad,eventhoughtheymayneveruseit.Thatputitbluntlyitdoesnotpassthepubtest!
ItisanunsolicitedbiddesignedtodelivermaximumprofitstoTransurban,whilstnotonlynotsolvingMelbourne’scongestionproblems,butpotentiallymakingthemworsewiththeinduceddemandandlocalizedcongestiontheroadswillbring.
Ifthenumbersforthisprojectdoindeed‘stackup’aswearerepeatedlytold,thenwethetaxpayersdemandtoseehowandwhy.SeriousquestionshavebeenraisedfromthepeerreviewbyconsultantJohnAllardtotheaccuracyofthegovernment’snumbersandtrafficprojections.Thereisgrowingbeliefinthecommunitythatthereportquestionsthe$1.30returnfor$1investmentprojections.
Thereasonforwithholdingthereportisnotvalidfromourpointofview.Weremainverysuspiciousofthisentireprocessandbelievethatthereleaseiswithinthepublic’sinterest,andmustbereleasedwithoutdelay.
FromWikipedia:EddingtonTransportReport,Victoria
Eddington’sstudynotedthatMelbourne’sstrongeconomicandpopulationgrowthwouldresultina30percentincreaseindemandfortravel,bybothpublictransportandprivatemotorvehicles,by2033.Therewouldalsobea50percentgrowthinfreightbeingmovedaroundMelbourneandtoandfromthecity’sportsandairportsby2020.Hesaiditwasvitalthattherewerehigherlevelsofinvestmentinpublictransportaswellasthedevelopmentofurbanareasthatwereconducivetowalkingandcycling.Butheadded:"TheevidenceisclearthatthenumberoftripsmadebycarinMelbournewillincreasebyasubstantialamountfortheforeseeablefuture–andthecity’sroadnetworkmustbeabletocopewiththisincreasingdemandinanefficientandsustainablemanner.WebelievethattheWGTPisneitherefficientnorsustainable.
Fortransportcompaniesandownersofheavyvehicles,theywillnolongerbeabletodriveintothecityorarounditusingahighwayfromthewestwithoutpayingatoll.Thishasthepotentialtosendanumberofthesmalleroperatorsbrokeandpushupthepriceofeverythingtocaterforthehigheroperatingcosts.
ThisbringslittlebenefittoVictoria,especiallywhenbyyourownestimatesitmayonlysavecommutersbetween4–8minutesintraveltime.Thenoise,dust,vibrationsanddisruptionsof5plusyearsofconstructionarenotworththeprojectedoutcomeof4–8minutes.Whyarethepredictionsonlyuntil2031?Whatarethenumbersafterthat?Willthistollroadandtunnelbeobsoletewithinafewyearsofopening?
Theimpacttotheenvironmentalongtheproposedrouteisnothingshortofdevastating,withtheremovalofeverytreeinitspath.Althoughnewtreeswillbeplanted,andnewparklandcreated,itwillmanytakeyearstoestablish.
TheWGTPplansshouldbecompletelyscrappedandredrawn.ThroughouttheEESwearepresentedwithaprojectvnoprojectscenario,andaskedtocomparethetwo.TheyarepresentedasthoughtheseweretheonlytwooptionsavailableforVictoriatoeaseourcongestion,freightandcommuterproblems.WeintheWestarescreamingfortrains.MrDonellanclaimshehaslistenedtothecommunities,Iwouldliketoknowjustexactlyhowmuchhehas,andcontinuestodo?
Werecognizetheneedforinfrastructuredevelopmentinresponsetothegrowingcity.Itisvitalthatanydevelopmentshouldhaveapositivecontributiontotheexistingneighborhoodandcommunity.TheWGTPisabigdevelopment,withabigpricetagandabigimpact.
WearedeeplyconcernedabouttheinadequateplanningandflaweddesignoftheWGTP.Developmentinsuchalargescalemustofferasolutionthatisfutureproof,andinlineorsuperiorthemoderncitydesign.TheWGTPisnothingbutabigstepbackwardstothecitydevelopment.
TheWGTPoffersnoconfidencetothecommunities,Don’tDestroyMillersRdstandsinlinewithallthecitycouncilsandgroupswhoopposeit.
Don’tDestroyMillersRoadGroupwouldalsoliketomakeclearthedisappointmentintheamountoftimegiventoproperlyread,comprehendandcritiquethe10,000pageEES.Toproperlyexaminesuchanenormousdocumentwithoutafulltimeteamoflawyers,engineersandprofessionalsin30businessdaysnoless,hasprovedtobeimpossible.Timeaftertimewefoundconfusingandcontradictingfactsandfigures.Wewouldliketosuggestmoretimeshouldbegiventocomprehendandcomment,especiallynowwithanumberofnewannouncementsmade,forexamplethePortRailShuttle,newtruckbansetc.
Thisdevelopmenthasgreatopportunitytocontributetotheneighborhoodandcommunitypositivelyandweurgedtheplanneranddevelopertoberesponsibleandrespectful,orfacetheriskofsettingtheWestandtheStatebackdecades.
TheDon’tDestroyMillersRoadGroup,July10,2017