City of Yarra frustrated by lack of information on East West Link project

More than 100 inner-city properties will be demolished for the first stage of the road project.
More than 100 inner-city properties will be demolished for the first stage of the road project.

ABC Melbourne: City of Yarra frustrated by lack of information on East West Link project. Updated Fri Aug 2, 2013 11:04am AEST

The City of Yarra says the State Government is refusing to give it access to vital information on the East West Link project. The council is also calling for state authorities to provide counselling for residents who are traumatised by the prospect of losing their homes.

The Victorian Government has revealed more than 100 inner-city properties will be demolished to make way the first stage of the East West tollway. The detailed plans also show another 258 properties will be affected by a four-kilometre tunnel from Clifton Hill to Parkville.

The Mayor of Yarra, Jackie Fristacky, says she has written to state ministers at least six times asking for more information on the project.

In particular, she wants details on a three hectare council site in Fitzroy North which is likely to be affected. But she has had no response.

Ms Fristacky also claims the Linking Melbourne Authority has cancelled two briefing sessions with the council. Ms Fristacky says residents and business owners who stand to lose their properties are traumatised and need counselling.

“There’s enormous angst. There are people extremely distressed, so distressed they can’t speak,” she said.

Community briefings are scheduled for this weekend and early next week. The Linking Melbourne Authority says all local authorities will be heard and it is prepared to offer “personal support” where needed.

One thought on “City of Yarra frustrated by lack of information on East West Link project”

  1. Ronald Smith says:

    And if a train line was built it would take thousands of those cars off the inner city roads. Imagine what a difference it would make to the traffic that hasn’t even been increasing for the last decade. East-West tunnel, why bother?

Comments are closed.