RPPG joined with Protectors of Public Landands Victoria Inc. and Carlton Residents’ Association at theirsnap protest – Say No to East West Link Yes To Doncaster Rail Link next week.

This was the notice:

“As you would know Stage One of construction of the East West Link has commenced with “geological investigation” (ie drilling for soil and rock samples and testing for underground water) along the proposed alignment of the above/under/on ground road way.  Note from comments made by the State Government that the tollway/freeway it is highly likely to be an above ground “aerial roadway” akin to CitiLink along Princes Street and through the inner suburbs with compulsory acquisition of property along the route. It is likely to be open cut through Royal Park.

Please support us at this crucial stage of our campaign. The drilling rig will be installed on the reserve outside the Dan O’Connell Hotel Carlton, north east of  the Canning St/Neill St intersection,Carlton.  The reserve is right on Princes Street behind the wall.  (The reference for this drilling site is EWL-B12-007 on the map from Linking Melbourne Authority. Please advse if you could like a copy of the map sent on email)

Time: 12:15 pm for 12: 30 pm start

Date: Tuesday 21 August 2012

Reason: Continue protest over East West Link and demand the Doncaster Rail Link.

Speakers: Councillors and community representatives

Bring: Green triangles with No Tunnel message or Trains not Tunnel placards or Public Transport Not Road Tunnels placards/banners.”

See Link http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wells-plans-to-fix-projects-dilemma-20110626-1gltm.html

Here is my comment written for the on line comments on the article (it was not printed) Neither were any letters printed on the subject:  

The Treasurer The Hon Kim Wells appears to have a gung ho attitude to building freeways. We would like to ask  – why aren’t these announcements coming from the Minister for Transport? Why is the Treasurer deciding? We suspect who is behind these ideas – Sir Rod Eddington,  who is now said to be advising the NSW Government.  The East West Link, through the inner suburbs and Royal and Holland Parks, to the Port and City Link, was Sir Rod’s idea but it was rejected after an extensive review by Government in 2008 and a widespread citizens’ revolt and was, consequently, not included in the Brumby 2008 Transport Plan. (Note that the North East Link is also back on the agenda)

People have been pushing for public transport,  including the Doncaster Rail Link and the Railway to Tullamarine Airport, NOT for freeways. These railway projects were pre-election promises made by Premier Ted Baillieu. So what’s happened to them?

And as for the arrant nonsense that we have to start big road projects because skilled workers will leave Victoria and go to NSW and Queensland!  Brumby promoted the huge Peninsula Link project on the grounds that it would give locals in Frankston steady employment for years but what did they find? Queenslanders took most of the jobs! The Victorian unions had a lot to say about this issue. 

The last point which should be made is  – who is paying for these mega projects? The Federal Government refused to fund WestLink under Footscray and the East West Link (the extension of the Eastern Freeway.) Planning for WestLink has nearly been completed but where are the funds?

In our view it is essential that we cut back overseas skilled migration to sustainable numbers, get commuters onto public transport and freight onto rail.  We need to undertake public transport projects not road construction. Unless we do this car ownership will continue to increase.  By 2036 there will be at the present rate of increase, according to Monash University Centre for Population and Social Research , 3.5 million cars on Melbourne’s roads ie adding up to one big traffic jam!