METRO WESTERN TUNNEL ENTRANCE

The western tunnel entrance in Kensington is the portal that will connect the Sunbury rail line to the Metro Tunnel near South Kensington station.

Overview The western tunnel entrance will enable the Sunbury When the Metro Tunnel starts operating by 2026, line to peel off from the existing rail corridor near a new cross-city line will be running between South Kensington station, and travel through the Werribee and Sandringham, stopping at South CBD and on to Pakenham and Cranbourne via the Kensington station. This will allow more train services Metro Tunnel and five new underground stations. to operate through South Kensington station, a benefit for all local residents travelling by train.

Proposed western tunnel entrance in the foreground - Kensington. Mercantile Pde Derby St Kensington Community Recreation Centre

Altona St Balmer St

lure Rd cC Hobsons Rd M Ormond St Wakefi eld St JJ Holland Park

use Rd Tennyson St o Kensington Rd h

e

Childers St Bak

r

e v Legend i R Public traffi c access

g Decline structure n o Tunnel cut and cover n r y TBM retrieval box ib r Rail tunnel a M Potential construction zone Kensington Rd

Western tunnel entrance - Option A: Potential construction sites.

Tunnel entrance location options and features Assessing options The western tunnel entrance is proposed to be Both Options A and B have benefits and impacts located alongside the existing rail corridor near that require further assessment before a preferred South Kensington station. A ‘decline structure,’ design can be selected. The final tunnel entrance or descending tracks, will be built so that trains location will be determined in the detailed design can enter the new Metro Tunnel. phase of the project, following the Minister for Planning’s assessment of the project’s Environment From the western tunnel entrance, the Effects Statement. will pass under Moonee Ponds Creek and CityLink before connecting to the new underground Option A proposes that the tunnel entrance is station at Arden. constructed near the intersection of Childers Street and Ormond Street. Two options for the location of the western tunnel entrance are assessed as part of the project’s This option requires a shorter decline structure planning process. and track work in the rail corridor between Kensington Road and the tunnel entrance.

2 METRO TUNNEL WESTERN TUNNEL ENTRANCE Mercantile Pde Derby St Kensington Community Recreation Centre

Altona St Balmer St

lure Rd cC Hobsons Rd M Ormond St Wakefi eld St JJ Holland Park

use Rd Tennyson St o Kensington Rd h

e

Childers St Bak

r e v Legend i R Public traffi c access g Decline structure n o Tunnel cut and cover n r y TBM retrieval box ib r Rail tunnel a M Potential construction zone Kensington Rd

Impact Option A Parking • Temporary loss of car parking along Childers Street. Pedestrian and cyclists • Upgraded shared use path in JJ Holland Park. Rail disruption • More rail service disruptions required. Property acquisition • Permanent acquisition of nine residential and thirteen commercial properties. Cost • Less expensive than Option B. Roads • Temporary closure of Childers Street, between Kensington Road and Tennyson Street, during construction. • Construction of a permanent retaining wall along Childers Street to the tunnel entrance. • Temporary changes to traffic access and movements along Childers Street, Ormond Street, Altona Street and Tennyson Street.

METRO TUNNEL WESTERN TUNNEL ENTRANCE 3 Mercantile Pde Derby St Kensington Community Recreation Centre Altona St Balmer St

lure Rd cC Hobsons Rd M Ormond St Wakefi eld St

JJ Holland Park use Rd Kensington Rd o h Tennyson St e

Childers St Bak

r Legend e

v Public traffi c access i

R Decline structure g n Tunnel cut and cover o n TBM retrieval box r y Rail tunnel ib r Rail bridge over road a M Potential construction zone Kensington Rd

Western tunnel entrance - Option B: Potential construction sites.

Alternative option Following discussions with nearby residents and BOTH TUNNEL ENTRANCE community groups, along with a comparative assessment of impacts, the Metro Rail OPTIONS HAVE BENEFITS Authority has developed an alternative option. AND IMPACTS THAT REQUIRE Option B proposes the tunnel entrance sits FURTHER ASSESSMENT BEFORE approximately 120 metres west of the South Kensington station subway. This option A PREFERRED DESIGN CAN BE involves constructing a longer decline structure, SELECTED. track work either side of Kensington Road and the construction of a new rail bridge over Kensington Road.

4 METRO TUNNEL WESTERN TUNNEL ENTRANCE Mercantile Pde Derby St Kensington Community Recreation Centre Altona St Balmer St

lure Rd cC Hobsons Rd M Ormond St Wakefi eld St

JJ Holland Park use Rd Kensington Rd o h Tennyson St e

Childers St Bak

r Legend e v Public traffi c access i

R Decline structure g n Tunnel cut and cover o n TBM retrieval box r y Rail tunnel ib r Rail bridge over road a M Potential construction zone Kensington Rd

Impact Option B Parking • Temporary loss of car parking along Childers Street. Pedestrian and cyclists • Upgraded shared use path JJ Holland Park. Rail disruption • Less rail service disruptions required. Property acquisition • Acquisition of one residential property. Cost • More expensive then Option A. Roads • Temporary closure of Childers Street, between Kensington Road and Ormond Street, during construction. • Construction of a permanent retaining wall along Childers Street to the tunnel entrance. • Temporary changes to traffic access and movements along Childers Street and Tennyson Street.

METRO TUNNEL WESTERN TUNNEL ENTRANCE 5 Building the western tunnel entrance Options A and B will both involve construction What we heard works on Childers Street to build a retaining Drawing on the ideas, expertise and wall to support the embankment on the northern opinions of stakeholders and the side of the rail corridor (east of Kensington Road), community is vital as planning for which is to be widened to accommodate the new the Metro Tunnel continues. Metro Tunnel tracks. A comprehensive program of public A ‘decline structure,’ or descending tracks, will be engagement and consultation has been built so trains can enter the new Metro Tunnel. underway since early 2015, and feedback The decline structure and tunnel entrance are has informed planning documentation proposed to be built via a ‘cut and cover’ method, and project designs. which will see them excavated from the top down Key western tunnel entrance feedback and the surface then reinstated over the top of topics included: the tunnels. • The importance of managing impacts A construction support site on Hobsons Road is on traffic and parking on local streets. proposed for both options and a tunnel boring • The importance of minimising impacts machine (TBM) retrieval box will also be built to on JJ Holland Park and other well support tunnelling works. utilised community facilities. It is not proposed that any construction activities • Feedback noted concerns about the for the Metro Tunnel will be undertaken in proposed tunnel entrance location JJ Holland Park, other than potential upgrades being too close to local homes. This to the shared use path. feedback has been considered in the Under Option A, there is an option to locate development of Options A and B. a substation in the Lloyd Street Business Estate • Longer term urban design changes to provide power for the operation of the project’s to the local area, including the height tunnels and stations. The preferred site for the and design of the retaining wall or substation is on Government owned land to noise walls, if required. the north of Arden Street (between CityLink to the west and Langford Street to the east). • Maintaining business park access for larger vehicles. Key construction activities Key construction activities to build the western tunnel entrance would include: • Preparatory works including tree protection and removal, and relocation of utilities including the electrical high voltage. transmission towers, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT gas main, and water and drainage services. COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT CAN BE FOUND • Demolition of acquired buildings. IN CHAPTER 7 OF THE MELBOURNE • Relocation of public car parking and the shared METRO ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS pedestrian and cyclist path on Childers Street. STATEMENT. • Construction of TBM retrieval shaft. • Works to install temporary access to the Lloyd Street Business Estate (Option A only). • Construction works to widen the rail reserve to accommodate additional tracks and install retaining structures alongside Childers Street. • Cut and cover excavation of the decline structure and tunnel entrance construction. • Track works and the installation of signalling and communications systems. • Site reinstatement including upgrading shared pedestrian and cyclist path, altered parking and road management and landscaping.

6 METRO TUNNEL WESTERN TUNNEL ENTRANCE Traffic and transport A number of rail occupations (periods where During construction, Childers Street will be closed trains stop running so works can take place) will to traffic and used for construction activities. This be required to connect the Metro Tunnel to the will require the occupation of car parks along Sunbury line. These occupations would potentially Childers Street and the permanent diversion of the disrupt services on parts of the rail network. shared use path along the railway line. In Option A, The construction contractors will be required to some car parking in Childers Street will be removed. develop and implement measures to minimise For Option B, most of the car parks will be retained. disruption to the transport network In addition to the temporary closure of Childers during construction of the Metro Tunnel. Street, the construction of the western tunnel entrance is expected to impact traffic and car parking on Ormond, Tennyson and Altona streets, Bakehouse Road and McClure Road during different FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE stages of works. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT FACT SHEET AT MELBOURNEMETRO.VIC.GOV.AU Proposed construction traffic routes for the western tunnel entrance precinct take advantage of the site’s close proximity to CityLink and a number of major arterial roads. The proposed routes aim to move construction traffic away from local streets and on to these major connections as quickly as possible.

METRO TUNNEL WESTERN TUNNEL ENTRANCE 7 Managing impacts in Kensington Construction timeframes A number of mitigation measures, or ‘Environmental It is estimated that construction of the western Performance Requirements’, have been proposed tunnel entrance will take around two years. to avoid, reduce or manage construction impacts Subject to planning approval, early works would for the western tunnel entrance precinct begin in early 2017 with major works commencing in Kensington. in 2018. Some of the recommended mitigation measures for the western tunnel entrance include: • Planning and carefully managing access routes to minimise impacts on residents and users of FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE the area. BUILDING THE PROJECT FACT SHEET AT MELBOURNEMETRO.VIC.GOV.AU • Undertaking property condition surveys before construction begins to record the existing condition of buildings and residences in close proximity to tunnels and construction sites. • Providing alternative routes for pedestrians, Contact Us cyclists and vehicles to maintain connectivity and safety for road and shared path users of To find out more about the Metro Tunnel Childers Street, JJ Holland Park and South and register for future updates: Kensington station. W melbournemetro.vic.gov.au • Finding alternative routes for trucks to access the Lloyd Street Business Estate in Kensington. 1800 551 927 • Developing an occupations plan that minimises @melbournemetro the disruption to railway services during construction. Melbourne Metro Rail Authority • Implementing measures for providing advance facebook.com/metrotunnel notice of significant milestones, changed traffic conditions and periods of potential high noise Melbourne Metro Rail Authority, and vibration activities. PO Box 4509, Melbourne, VIC 3001 • Monitoring dust and air quality, in line with Environment Protection Authority requirements, and addressing air quality Interpreter requirements for nearby residents Service and businesses. ph:(03) 9280 0700 • Ensuring above-ground structures are responsive to heritage places in terms of height, massing, form, façade articulation and materials. • Preserving the broader landscape and recreational values in the reinstatement of shared pathways and other public spaces.

Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. MMRA-MAY2016