Impacts on open spaces and sports facilities

The North East Link (NEL) will have impacts on Boroondara open spaces and sporting facilities.

Koonung Creek Reserve

Koonung Creek Reserve will be impacted by the NEL, permanently losing approximately 20 to 25% of land for widening of the Eastern Freeway.

Around 65% of the reserve is currently being used for construction, workers facilities, parking and access into the reserve from the freeway. The Koonung Creek Trail has been diverted around the construction compounds.

The Koonung Creek Reserve master plan design will guide the reinstatement of the reserve once NEL works are completed. We engaged and consulted with the community about the master plan design in September/October 2023. In February 2024, Council adopted and endorsed the design that reflected the community’s feedback.

Leonis Avenue Reserve

The Leonis Avenue Reserve is being used by the Eastern Freeway Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA) as a construction and laydown site. The Koonung Creek Trail is still open through the reserve for cyclist and pedestrian use.

Chandler Park

Chandler Park is being used by the Eastern Freeway Hoddle to Burke Alliance (EHBA) as a construction and laydown site. The Main Yarra Tail will be diverted around the works area and will be open throughout the works for cyclist and pedestrian use.

Kate Campbell Reserve

The EHBA are using part of the Kate Campbell Reserve to build Intelligent Transport System (ITS) infrastructure. The majority of the reserve, including the playground, remain open and accessible for use.

Jack O’Toole Reserve

The Jack O’Toole Reserve is being used by the EHBA to build ITS and drainage infrastructure. The reserve is fully occupied by the EHBA and is not available for use by residents and visitors.

8 Minogue Street, Kew

The EHBA is using the former Kilby Tree Farm site at 8 Minogue Street, Kew to access the Eastern Freeway works area, car parking, material storage and worker facilities.

Council acquired the property and is in the process of developing plans for its future use as public open space.

Boroondara Tennis Centre

During the early planning and approval stages of the NEL, we advocated to save the Boroondara Tennis Centre (BTC) and retain an 18-hole Freeway Golf Course (FGC).

This was our position at the Inquiry and Advisory Committee panel hearing in 2019. It was not supported by the panel or the NELP .

We were left with a difficult decision and sought to keep the open space that the FGC provides, although in a reduced footprint as an impact of the NEL. At no stage did we support the North East Link Program’s (NELP) proposal to relocate the BTC to the golf course.

We know that Boroondara does not have any tracts of land equivalent in area to the 3.68 hectares occupied by the BTC, let alone the 6 to 7 hectares being acquired for the NEL in Koonung Creek Reserve.

Closure of Boroondara Tennis Centre

The BTC permanently closed on 22 December 2022 due to its divestment by the Victorian Government for the NEL.

The BTC has provided a regional competition and coaching venue for many in the east of Melbourne. The Victorian Government announced on 16 December 2020 that it would develop a replacement 18-court tennis facility in Glen Waverley. The new facility is now open and operational. Visit the Glen Waverly Sports Hub website for more information.