North East Link project

The North East Link (NEL) is a freeway-standard road and tunnel being built on behalf of the Victorian Government. It will link the Metropolitan Ring Road (M80) in Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen Road. It also involves the widening of the Eastern Freeway between Hoddle Street and Springvale Road. The North East Link Program (NELP) is managing the delivery of this large-scale road infrastructure project.

We continue to advocate on behalf of the Boroondara community for the best outcomes as NEL planning and development progresses.

The NELP has legislative power to use council owned ‌land for the NEL and Eastern Freeway widening works.

The NELP does not need Council’s permission to occupy the land and we cannot stop the NELP using our land.

Status update

Hoddle St to Burke Road UDLP - Have your say

In late 2025, the Victorian Government released the Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP) for the works on the Eastern Freeway between Hoddle Street and Burke Road.

The design includes a series of new elements that will impact our local community.

The UDLP was on public exhibition from 27 October to 16 November 2025. The consultation has now closed.The Council endorsed and adopted a submission on the UDLP is available for download below.

For more information and updates on the UDLP visit the Engage Victoria consultation page.

Eastern Freeway works

The Eastern Freeway corridor from Hoddle Street (City of Yarra) thorough Boroondara to Tram Road (City of Whitehorse) is a busy worksite, with the Eastern Freeway Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA) construction works well underway and the Eastern Freeway Hoddle to Burke Alliance (EHBA) early works underway.

Temporary construction compounds have been built at Leonis Avenue Reserve, Koonung Creek Reserve, Freeway Golf Course*, Burke Road, Wiltshire Drive and 5 Yarra Boulevard providing office space, worker facilities and parking for EBTA and EHBA workers.

Works are taking place right across the corridor impacting the following parks and facilities:

Chandler Park
Kate Campbell Reserve
Jack O'Toole Reserve
Yarra Flats Reserve
Musca Street Reserve
Columba Street Reserve
Leonis Avenue Reserve
Koonung Creek Reserve
Winfield Road Reserve
Freeway Golf Course*.

*Note the compound and works adjacent to the Freeway Golf Course do not affect play on the course.

You can find notifications about NEL and Eastern Freeway widening works on Victoria's Big Build website. Click on your suburb to view information about works happening nearby including road closures.

Residents with concerns about the project should phone the Big Build Customer Contact Centre on 1800 105 105.

NELP-funded tree planting

Council has received funding from NELP for the procurement, planting and maintenance of trees to help offset the loss of trees across the NEL corridor.

Tree Planting locations are guided by Council’s Tree Canopy Replacement Plan and input from our Urban Tree Planning Team.

Doncaster Park and Ride now closed

Doncaster Park and Ride (DPR) closed on 12 January 2025 in preparation for construction of a new Park and Ride beginning late 2025. Find out more about the final design for the Doncaster Park and Ride on Victoria’s Big Build website.

Koonung Creek Reserve master plan concept design

We’ve prepared a master plan that provides guidance and a vision for the reinstatement of Koonung Creek Reserve. The master plan concept design was endorsed and adopted by Council on 26 February 2024. The endorsed master plan was shared with NELP and EBTA.

View the endorsed and adopted Koonung Creek Reserve Master Plan on Your Say Boroondara for our concept design, consultation summary and next steps.

Urban Design and Landscape Plans

NELP and its contractors must prepare Urban Design and Landscape Plans (UDLP) where any above ground structures are to be built. The draft UDLPs are released for community consultation. Feedback from the community is considered before the document is finalised and sent for approval by the Minister for Planning. Council has prepared the following submissions in response to Project UDLPs.

Find out more about the UDLP on the Big Build website.