Protest over CityLink gains pace

By Maree Roberts

MELBOURNE -- One hundred people braved a cold Sunday morning on July 19 to protest outside Parliament House about the treatment of northern and western suburbs' residents over the CityLink project, the private tollway being built over the public Tullamarine Freeway.

Carrying placards stating, “Tullamarine FREEway -- I'd like to see that”, and wearing “Don't toll the Tulla” T-shirts, the crowd erected a symbolic “noise wall” in front of Parliament House to show the height of the barriers being built at back fences along the freeway. Some are as high as 13 metres and, in contrast to the publicly built Eastern Freeway which recently won architectural awards for its transparent noise walls and innovative design, the CityLink walls are made of solid concrete. Residents are also enduring noisy work on the freeway from 7pm to 7am as the contractor rushes to complete the work.

The protest was organised by the CityLink Action Group and addressed by Moreland councillor Andrew Rowe, local federal MP Kelvin Thompson and others.

CLAG opposes the tolls on the Tullamarine Freeway (which has been a local road for residents for 25 years), supports transparent noise walls for those who want them and calls for the return of the Moonee Ponds Creek to its natural state.

CLAG is planning a blockade of the Tullamarine Freeway on October 11. The group can be contacted by leaving a message on 9376 1153.

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page