LATEST NELA REPORT DOESN’T ADDRESS CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS, SAYS RESIDENT ACTION GROUP

Concerns for air and noise pollution and traffic congestion have not been addressed in the North East Link Authority’s (NELA) recently published report, according to a Resident Action Group.

Published last week, the Community Engagement Report for the April/May period compiles community attitudes towards the first design of the project released in April.

But, the report did not accurately reflect the concerns of residents already affected by the project, according to Lorrae Willox of the Residents United Against North East Link Option A (RUANELA) group.

“Our main concerns are air pollution, noise pollution and traffic congestion,” Ms Willox said.

One particular area of concern for the group is Koonung Creek Reserve, where a proposed 18 lanes of traffic will be built.

“[The] NELA has already admitted that traffic will increase, and there is no known technology at present that can stop the noise coming from 18 lanes of traffic,” Ms Willox said.

“What they’re saying is, despite the fact that they’re going to add another 120,000 to 140,000 vehicles every day, we won’t be affected.

“We just can’t believe they think we’ll believe that,” Ms Willox said.

However CEO of the NELA, Duncan Elliott, said widening the Eastern Freeway is “critical”.

“We’ve been speaking with communities for over a year now and we are working hard to minimise impacts on communities and the environment,” Mr Elliott said.

RUANELA has submitted an alternate “streamline” plan to the Liberal, Labour and Greens parties in response.

Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, said work on the NEL will formally begin within 100 days of the state election this November.