ISSUE 5 SPRING OCTOBER 2018 THE LINK Your Walking Hitting P. 02 feedback P. 03 and cycling P. 04 the road Visitors to our drop in displays Welcome to have been learning more about NORTH EAST LINK the project with a new interactive THE LINK map, 3D videos and 180-degree It’s about the people who live virtual reality. and work in Melbourne’s north- COMES TO LIFE If you didn’t make it – it’s not too east and eastern suburbs and late. Check the back page to see the people who will use North when we’ll be in your area. East Link, an upgraded Eastern Freeway and Melbourne’s first You can also see everything busway to get where they 3D images and videos from the comfort of home. need to go. We have a lot of Visit northeastlink.vic.gov.au work ahead of us and want to for the new interactive map, keep everyone informed along are the latest way to 3D fly-through videos and to the way. see the project during give us your feedback. When you’re finished with THE LINK, please recycle. early planning. Continued page 2… Your feedback Connecting shapes North Melburnians East Link by bike and foot We’ve been talking with walkers, runners and cyclists across the north- Continued from page 1… east and it’s clear you want better connectivity for all forms of transport. That’s why North East Link will include The latest designs show how tunnels, more than 25 kilometres of new walking green bridges, an Eastern Freeway and cycling paths. overhaul, dedicated busway and walking and cycling links slash congestion, take North East Link will significantly expand traffic off local streets and connect the cycling network in the north-east, communities. with new routes to Greensborough, Watsonia, Heidelberg and La Trobe University, connecting people to local We’ve been speaking with shops, attractions and jobs. communities for more than a year – even ahead of the Community feedback is business case, a first for playing a vital role throughout a major project like this. the design process. This means communities Key features of the latest designs include: have helped shape the In response to some key issues raised • Completing the long awaited eastern bike corridor - a new commuter route to project from the get-go. at information sessions, we’re adding the city along the Eastern Freeway between Chandler Highway and Merri Creek a direct connection at Burke Road and • A bridge over the Yarra River to cut more than a kilometre from journeys along removing the steep hill from Belford the Main Yarra Trail Road in Kew. Thanks to your feedback we are: • Green bridges to create new walking and cycling connections and green spaces We’ll keep working with walkers and for communities riders to help shape the look and feel of • Safer walking and cycling connections near schools and community venues, including: • Working with Banyule Council, local stakeholders and • Significantly increasing green space along • Investigating a footpath on the western side of Bulleen North East Link’s cycling and pedestrian residents to explore different design options for local Greensborough Road and adding a new signalised Road so there are paths on both sides of the road links. - An underpass connecting Lower Plenty Road and River Gum Walk traffic, walking and cycling connections crossing for walkers and bike riders connecting • Upgrading the Belford Road walking and cycling path - New paths and safer crossings at Bulleen Road at Watsonia Station and shops. To get involved, to Wattle Drive along the Eastern Freeway Visit northeastlink.vic.gov.au to see the visit jointheconversation.northeastlink.vic.gov.au latest designs. • Simplifying the Manningham Road interchange • Adding a shortcut to the Main Yarra Trail along • Reducing visual impacts from the northern portal • Adding two new crossings on Bulleen Road to make the Eastern Freeway at Burke Road tunnel ventilation structures by moving them as far getting to schools sports fields and community clubs • Assessing future upgrades to Doncaster away from homes as possible and locating them on safer and easier Simpson Barracks land Park and Ride and Watsonia Station carpark North East Link Community Liaison Groups Community Liaison Groups (CLGs) are a way for people to be involved The groups have an independent chair and bring together residents, Tough noise standards Busway by in the planning stage of North East Link and are a link between the businesses, students, environmental groups, councils, VicRoads and North East Link Authority and the community. North East Link Authority. for North East Link numbers Two groups represent the northern and southern parts the project and Each group has a student representative: Raymond Myrteza from participate in regular forums, which incorporate community feedback Marcellin College (south group) and Johanna Tabares from Melbourne From speaking with communities we know that Melbourne’s first dedicated busway will be and help resolve issues. Polytechnic (north group). noise is a key priority and that noise in some built as part of North East Link, and our areas, particularly along the Eastern Freeway, engineers are looking to successes in Ray is from Marcellin College and lives in Eaglemont. He enjoys Greensborough Road and the M80 Ring Road, Sydney and Brisbane to get the best fit playing soccer for his local club and spending time with friends. is already high. along the Eastern Freeway. Meet Ray The year 10 student became our school CLG representative after his Business Management (a year 11 subject) teacher suggested he join. Community feedback has shaped this year, noise specialists have Doncaster Area Rapid Transit Local services will also benefit our plans for a noise standard of been recording existing noise (DART) bus routes are the busiest from smoother trips with access Ray thought ‘wow, this could be interesting’, and aspires to a career 63 decibels, which is similar to the levels near homes, schools and in Melbourne which makes building points on and off the busway at in management. noise level of a busy general office. community buildings and modelling a dedicated busway along the Thompsons Road and Chandler Ray attends meetings before school and hears about community issues predicted changes to noise levels Eastern Freeway a crucial part of Highway. and ideas, and talks to locals affected by the project. Ray says he The noise standard will be applied once the project is built. the North East Link Project. to all residential areas along North What ideas do you have for the new also enjoys hearing about the construction equipment that could be used East Link as well as the planned This helps our project engineers to Buses will travel in their own lanes, busway? See the latest designs and for the tunnels. upgrades to the Eastern Freeway determine where new or upgraded separated from traffic merging on give feedback on our website or and M80 Ring Road. noise walls will be needed and to and off the freeway and getting to follow us on social media to share A key member of the group, Ray provides input into the include these in the project design. and from the city will be faster and your thoughts. conversation from both a student and local perspective. It will also cover open space where easier. noise barriers are needed to Feedback from communities we’re Ray says he learns a lot from being in the group. protect residents or noise sensitive receiving now is helping to shape A new Park and Ride will be built buildings such as schools. ideas for what new noise walls at Bulleen and Doncaster Park and could look like. Ride will get a major upgrade. As part of the Environment Effects “A major piece of knowledge I have taken away is Statement (EES) being prepared the planning aspect, it has helped me understand A noise standard of planning for my classes.” More than 60 Two Park and Travel speeds of 63 decibels will apply 60 locations have Rides – Doncaster up to 100 kilometres along the entire project been monitored and Bulleen 100 an hour “The group has also helped me understand alignment a greater range of team work,” he says. Smoother trips for the Noise is being studied More information about Up to 30 percent 16,000 people who and modelled this year noise walls will be on 12 30% faster travel times already use DART Look out for student rep Johanna in the next issue. as we prepare the EES public display in 2019 services every day P. 02 The Link - Issue 05 P. 03 Urban design: “For North East Link, shaping local ‘natural’and ‘connected’ are recurring themes we are communities hearing from communities.” Looking for opportunities to improve The Urban Design Strategy for North the look and feel of local areas, and East Link responds to three distinctive how people move about, is an important ‘character areas’ and will give the part of the planning process for major project builders ideas for their designs. projects like North East Link. “This is about maximising opportunities Kevin Begg, lead urban designer for for the community as part of the design North East Link Authority, says feedback process,” says Kevin. from communities is central. We’re interested to hear your feedback “Urban design is how places look, on our urban design strategy and ideas feel and function. It addresses parks for your local area. and cycle paths, shopping areas and waterways, pedestrian bridges and To get involved visit landscape buffers.” jointheconversation. northeastlink.vic.gov.au ‘Ridgeline’ character area ‘Koonung Creek Valley’ character area North East Link Authority spends months developing the urban design strategy with three main inputs: • We learn from previous documents and implement things that worked • We speak with local councils to find out local knowledge • We speak with communities to understand what is important in their area ‘Yarra River Valley’ character area The North East Link team is popping Because space is limited, these pop up at shopping centres to share key ups are mini versions of our September We’re hitting the road information about the latest designs.