By Natalie Moxham

MELBOURNE -- Community groups have united once again to fight government plans to increase the traffic capacity of Alexandra Parade.

“There is strong community concern about this plan to push a six-lane freeway through the communities of Collingwood, Fitzroy and Clifton Hill”, said spokesperson Cam Walker. “Carlton residents' groups have already mobilised with a public meeting expressing strong opposition to Carlton becoming the next dumping ground for the Eastern Freeway.

“Health issues are of great concern to the local people. Even if lead is removed from petrol, other poisonous and cancer-causing emissions persist and are increasing. An extension to a major road will exacerbate this serious problem.”

Residents also oppose the widening of the barrier between the communities north and south of Alexandra Parade, and the loss of open space and Alexandra Parade's elm trees.

“In the 1970s community action stopped the freeway being extended to the Carlton cemetery”, Walker said. “In 1991, Vic Roads tried to push through an Alexandra Parade expansion to 10 lanes but were reproached by a government inquiry for improperly linking local street works with arterial expansions. This new plan is the same old quasi-freeway extension with different line markings, and will be defeated by community opposition.”

The coalition includes tenants' associations from the Collingwood area, the Public Transport Users Association, Bicycle Victoria, the People's Committee for Melbourne, People for Environmentally Sustainable Transport, Stop Freeways Now, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace. The coalition believes that the light rail promised as part of the original freeway development, plus a general upgrading of the public transport service, is the solution to Melbourne's transport problems.

The group will launch its campaign with a public meeting on Wednesday, June 15, in the supper room at the Collingwood Town Hall at 7.30pm.

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