A tunnel will be built under Yarraville and a new road will cross the Maribyrnong River after the state government gave the Western Distributor the green light.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday announced Transurban’s $5.5 billion project will be funded through a combination of tolling on the Western Distributor, an extension of tolling on CityLink for another 10-12 years, about $400 million in state government funding and additional federal money.
The Federal government is yet to commit to providing any funding.
“We’re getting on with the Western Distributor to provide an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, slash congestion on the M1 from the west to the south east and create thousands of new jobs,” Mr Andrews said.
The project will also widen the West Gate Freeway from eight to 12 lanes and include an elevated road along Footscray Road to the port, linking with CityLink and the CBD.
The government says the roadway would take 6000 trucks off the West Gate Bridge each day and a further 6000 trucks – up to 75 per cent – off Francis Street and Somerville Road.
The 276-page business case, released alongside the announcement, shows a $1.30 benefit for every dollar invested.
Construction would begin in 2018 and be completed by 2022.
Tolls would start at $2.77 for cars and $13.20 for trucks.
Existing truck curfews on local roads would be extended once construction was completed and the missing Federation Trail link would be built.
Transurban chief executive Scott Charlton said the Western Distributor will shape the future of the city.
“We will continue to consult with the local community, councils and industry stakeholders on route alignments and design,” he said.
“Following our extensive community consultation, we are committed to finding the best solution for the local residents including the option of building a longer tunnel while retaining connections for trucks to Hyde Street.”
Project concerns
But Yarraville residents claim Transurban has been selective in its use of findings from community consultation, picking up on comments about removing trucks from local streets but ignoring concerns about loss of open space and impact on Stony Creek.
Concerned Locals of Yarraville spokesman Scott Ellerton said the impact the project will have on residents and green space is unacceptable.
Friends of Stony Creek president Steve Wilson said the freeway flyover will have a devastating impact on bird and animal life in the reserve.
The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group is demanding state-of-the-art tunnel filtration and a ban on trucks on residential streets.
A Preliminary Social Impact Assessment attached to the business case noted adverse impacts associated with the project are likely to arise due to the scale, long construction phase and challenges of working in a densely populated urban environment.
“Recreational facilities including the West Gate Golf Course, Stony Creek Reserve, McIvor Reserve and Donald W McLean Reserve may be impacted.
“Widening of the freeway may lead to a reduction in distance between some residential areas and the freeway. This may reduce amenity for these residential areas through increased noise, decreased air quality and loss of landscaping and screening.”
On a visit to the site with opposition leader Matthew Guy on Friday, shadow roads minister Ryan Smith told Star Weekly he was concerned by the lack of transparency and the likely impact of the project on green space and nearby residents.
“There’s no possible way that it won’t affect the amenity here,” he said.
“They’re sending off a business case before the residents are being told definitively that’s what’s going to happen.”
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said the decision is a win for residents of Melbourne’s inner west who have long fought to end truck congestion.
“Now that the project has moved to the next stage, the government will conduct its own consultation process with the community and local stakeholders, including the location of the tunnel entry and exit points.”
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the announcement fails to give answers or firm commitments to addressing the community’s key concerns.
“Today we have seen Labor’s true colours. They have ignored the Port Inquiry’s recommendations to immediately proceed with the cheap, shovel-ready rail connection to the port, and instead have announced a massively expensive road.”
