Residents oppose freeway proposal

By Sue Bolton

MELBOURNE -- According to Transurban, the company that will build and run this city's mega-freeway project, we are about to get a “sculptured northern gateway” on the expanded freeway, the Western Bypass.

Transurban describes the gateway, which will be 60 metres long and have a wall of 58 coloured columns 30 metres high, as the “contemporary vision of a triumphal arch”. This, it says, will “create a strong sense of arrival for visitors”.

What isn't mentioned in the publicity for this new “icon” is that 4500 public tenants live in blocks of flats just a few metres away. Anyone living below the 10th floor will have their view totally blocked by the new gateway. The community garden will also be covered.

Residents will also be seriously affected by the increased noise coming from the expanded freeway, although Transurban claims that the gateway and tube will minimise freeway noise. According to Jason Fink from the Flemington Public Tenants Association, tenants already suffer from noise levels above those recommended by the OECD. He said the proposal to locate the gateway so close to the flats shows “total disregard for public tenants”.

The maximum safe level of noise recommended by the OECD is 58 decibels. Tenants already experience 63 decibels on the lower floors, 68 decibels on the upper floors and 78 decibels on the Boundary Road side of the flats. With an expanded freeway, the noise pollution will increase.

On August 5, some 200 local residents demonstrated against the Western Bypass. A range of speakers outlined the problems with the bypass and spoke about the need to abandon the project in favour of other transport options such as improved public transport.

Fink told Green Left Weekly, “Politicians on both sides of parliament have prevented any discussion of other options such as public transport”.

Further actions are being planned. For more information phone (03) 376 0234.

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