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The North East Link (NEL) is a freeway-standard road that is being built by the Victorian Government. It will link the Metropolitan Ring Road (M80) in Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen 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 planning and development of the NEL progresses.

Status update

North East Link (NEL) Eastern Freeway upgrades work underway

The NELP and its contractors, the Eastern Freeway Burke to Tram Alliance (BTA) are getting ready to start works in the south.  Their works include Eastern Freeway widening and construction of the NEL, Bulleen Road and Eastern Freeway interchange, as well as reinstatement of the Koonung Creek Reserve.

Site investigation and surveys are underway around the Koonung Creek Reserve, Musca Street Reserve, Leonis Avenue Reserve and residential streets nearby.

Site investigations include:  

  • flora and fauna surveys
  • geotechnical investigations
  • utility (sewer and water) location and assessment.

NEL project construction compounds in Boroondara

The NELP has legislative power to use Council owned land land for the NEL.

The NELP does not need Council’s permission to occupy the land and Council cannot stop NELP using our land.  There are various Boroondara parks and reserves being occupied and impacted by the project. 

Koonung Creek Reserve (KCR) 

Sixty-five percent of the KCR will be used for construction compounds, worker parking, materials storage and general workspace.  To accommodate these uses, sections of the Koonung Creek Trail will be realigned.  Realignment work is likely to begin in March 2024. 

Signage will be installed by the Burke to Tram Alliance (BTA) to advise what works are beginning, where and when.

The wetland will be within the construction zone and will be inaccessible for the construction period.

We are advocating to BTA and the NELP to ensure facilities (gazebos, seats etc.) affected by the occupation are relocated or replaced in areas that can still be accessed by the community.

Freeway Golf Course 

BTA is occupying land within the Freeway Golf Course for a construction compound.  Uses include housing workers and their vehicles, material laydown and enable construction of new roads and ramps.  The compound will not affect play on the course.

Leonis Avenue Reserve 

BTA will occupy part of Leonis Avenue Reserve for some materials laydown and facilities while works occur on the Bulleen Road and Eastern Freeway interchange and the new Koonung Creek Trail underpass under Bulleen Road.

If you have questions or concerns, please call the Big Build 24/7 contact centre on 1800 105 105.

You can find current works notifications on Victoria's Big Build website.

Council endorses and adopts a Koonung Creek Reserve master plan design

From 25 September to 21 October 2023, Council consulted on a draft concept design for the Koonung Creek Reserve.  This document was prepared by the NELP.  Based on community feedback, Council officers amended NELP’s draft concept design.  The master plan design was presented to Council on 26 February 2024 where it was endorsed and adopted.

To view the endorsed and adopted Koonung Creek Master Plan design and a summary of the consultation findings and next steps, visit Koonung Creek Reserve master plan page on Engage Boroondara.

Eastern Freeway upgrades: urban design and landscape plan

The NELP released the Eastern Freeway Upgrades Urban Design and Landscape Plan for public consultation on 9 October 2023.

The consultation was open for only 21 days, providing little time for residents and community groups to read, understand and respond to the UDLP consultation. 

Council officers prepared a submission which was endorsed by Council on Monday 27 November 2023. The submission has now been submitted to the North East Link Program. This UDLP is yet to be approved by the Minister for Planning. 

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

Our submission was informed by community feedback to the KCR Concept Design consultation, conversations with residents and Council, and Council officer review of the UDLP. 

Our key concerns with the Eastern Freeway Upgrades UDLP include the following: 

  • lack of detail and poor quality of the document.
  • Loss of at least 20% of the Koonung Creek Reserve for Eastern Freeway upgrades, which is not clearly shown in the UDLP.
  • Inclusion of significant drainage infrastructure in the Koonung Creek Reserve occupying open space and limiting access to open space. 
  • New cycling paths will be constructed to be shared with pedestrians. We have advocated to NELP for mode-separated paths that are safer for cyclists and walkers.
  • Construction of the new Estelle Street bridge on earth mounds effectively divides the Koonung Creek Reserve in half.
  • Significant tree loss in Boroondara
  • Lack of information on works in Musca Street Reserve and Yarra Flats Reserve.

NEL South Package – contract award

In December 2023, Nexus – made up of Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction, Symal Infrastructure, WSP Australia and Arcadis Australia Pacific – was appointed to deliver the South Package, the first part of the $5.7 billion overhaul of the Eastern Freeway from Burke to Tram Road.

The South Package is critically important to the Boroondara community and Council because it interfaces with residential areas, Belle Vue Primary School, the northern chain of parks and the Freeway Golf Course.

Nexus – now known as the Burke to Tram Alliance (BTA) – will finalise designs and construct the widened Eastern Freeway between Burke Road and Tram Road to connect with the NEL tunnels at Bulleen Road.  Their designs will include the interchange at Bulleen Road and the Eastern Freeway, cycling pedestrian paths, the first 7km of the Eastern Express Busway, and delivery of reinstated parkland at Koonung Creek Reserve.

We are advocating to BTA and NELP through the design process to achieve the best outcomes for our Balwyn North community.  We will also work with them during construction to ensure community impacts are minimised as much as possible.

Timeline

Since August 2017, we have been working to protect Boroondara from the negative effects of the North East Link.

See the timeline of NEL on our North East Link timeline page.

More information

Visit the North East Link website to find out more or submit a question to their project team.

Contacts

City of Boroondara

Phone: (03) 9278 4444

Email: [email protected]

Post: Private Bag 1, Camberwell VIC 3124

North East Link Project

Phone: 1800 941 191

Email: [email protected]

Post: GPO Box 4509, Melbourne VIC 3001

The Hon. Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria

Phone: (03) 8392 6100

Email: [email protected]

Post: Level 20, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

The Hon. Danny Pearson, Minister for Transport Infrastructure

Phone: (03) 9370 7777

Email: [email protected]

Post: PO Box 605, Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039


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