Dozens more trees will be cut down for the West Gate Tunnel with 12 construction compounds to be built in the Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong area.
It comes as the Western Distributor Authority gave Hobsons Bay council a formal apology from the Transurban Group for up to 70 trees cleared in Grieve Parade, Altona North, by project contractor CPB John Holland.
The trees, up to 30 years old, were felled on June 8 before the council’s arborist could undertake an inspection.
Construction compounds will be built at: the old Mobil site in Simcock Avenue at Spotswood; around Melbourne/Williamstown roads at Spotswood; Grieve Parade at Altona North; the southern portal site near Precinct 15 at Altona North; Lynch Road Reserve at Brooklyn; near Millers Road at Brooklyn; near The Boulevard at Yarraville; between West Gate Freeway and Geelong Road; and two at the M80 interchange.
Transurbans’ Victorian major projects director David Clements said there would be more tree clearing.
“As we continue to set up compounds in Hobsons Bay, every effort is being made to preserve as many trees as possible, and we continue to involve council and other important stakeholders in these conversations,” he said.
“We will improve the long-term amenity of land affected by construction by reinstating land after works have finished and planting five trees for every tree removed to construct the West Gate Tunnel project.
“The project has been up front about tree removals throughout the planning and approvals process, and tree removal was detailed in the project’s Environment Effects Statement.
“This process included opportunities for public discussion and submissions.”
