Background
| The Koonung Mullum Forestway Association (KMFA) was founded in the
mid 1970s as an umbrella organisation for seven residents’ groups between
Doncaster and Ringwood who shared the following aims:
1. To preserve and enhance the Koonung and Mullum Mullum Valleys as public open space and, in particular, to promote development of the area as an urban forestway; 2. To prevent the valleys being used for roads or other purposes which would reduce or destroy their environmental significance or value as public open space; 3. To actively support and liaise with other groups who had similar interests and concerns in other areas.1 The organisation reformed in 1987 when proposals to build new arterial roads through these valleys were revived. In 1991 KMFA, the Public Transport Users’ Association and other conservation groups successfully lobbied the Kirner Labor Government to abandon any extension of the Eastern Freeway.2 The findings against an arterial road through the Mullum Mullum valley on environmental grounds were summarised in the Eastern Arterial Road Extension and Ringwood Bypass Panel of Review, 1990, chaired by Dr Helen Gibson. The findings against extension of the freeway from Doncaster on economic grounds were documented by Professor E. W. Russell in the Report to the Victorian Minister for Transport, Hon. Peter Spyker, MP, of the Eastern Corridor Transport Options Study, July 1991. In 1991 the Government sponsored the report, “On the Right Track”, which recommended that the Eastern Freeway be abandoned and a rail link to Doncaster be constructed. In its final report, the Gibson Panel recommended that “the planning scheme reservation between Park Road and Deep Creek Road should be abandoned for road purposes and become public open space. Ownership and management of this land should be passed to the Department of Conservation and Environment” (Rec. 11). (This transfer was not carried out.) Despite all these recommendations, the Kennett Liberal Government proceeded with the construction of the Ringwood Bypass, opened in September 1996, and the extension of the freeway through the Koonung Valley to Springvale Road in December 1997. KMFA maintained a strong campaign of opposition to both these projects, including public demonstrations, protest rallies, direct action, parkland occupation, and leafleting. In 1995 VicRoads had commenced an extensive internal review of the Eastern Freeway Extension through the Mullum valley. This report, Review of the Eastern Freeway: Springvale Road to Ringwood, was kept from the public for more than three years. It was finally obtained by KMFA under Freedom of Information in August 1998. The then Minister for Planning and Local Government, Robert Maclellan, gave planning and environmental clearance to the project on the strength of VicRoads’ review in April 1997. Funding was allocated in the May 1999 State Budget. The Kennett Government’s preferred option was for a surface freeway through the Mullum Mullum valley. The new Bracks Labor Government remains committed to implementing this project, but released three alternative “tunnel options” for public comment in February 2000. KMFA retains a solid membership base and a strong community voice. The loss of the Koonung valley has only served to create a groundswell of support for protecting the Mullum Mullum and to increase disaffection in the wider community for ever-continuing expansion of the freeway network. KMFA opposes any extension of the Eastern Freeway, for four main reasons: Firstly, we believe that, even with tunnelled sections, the new freeway will cause irreversible environmental degradation to the Hillcrest Forestway and the Mullum Mullum valley. Secondly, KMFA has serious concerns about the wider social, economic and health impacts of the current Eastern Freeway, in addition to those of any further extensions. KMFA works closely with a growing number of political and citizens groups who are challenging the continuing dominance of road-based transportation systems, including the Australian Democrats, the Australian Greens, Environment Victoria, Friends of the Earth, the Public Transport Users Association, Preserve Ringwood and its Surrounding Environment, Knox Environment Society, Friends of Merri Creek, the Anti Ring Road Organisation, Richmond Action Coalition on Freeways, and key individuals with specialist knowledge and expertise. This Joint Submission brings together the objections and concerns of a number of our associates. Other groups and persons have liaised with KMFA in lodging their own submissions. Thirdly, the extension is being planned in the absence of a new Environmental Effects Study. This project should not proceed until all current data relating to its impact have been assessed and the broader question of sustainability addressed. Fourthly, we believe that the community consultation process lacks transparency and fails to provide the public with all the information that is required to make a genuinely informed choice. Failure to include a “No Build” option is, we argue, a misleading and deceitful tactic. ALL options must be rejected until the Government agrees to undertake a new EES which includes a “No Build” option as a base case. Arguments supporting our position in these four broad areas form the substance of this Submission. |
References
1 See also The Koonung-Mullum Forestway: A Plan for Action, report prepared for the Mullum Valley Freeway Action Group and Koonung Valley Action Group by Randall Champion and Paul Thompson, Melbourne, 1975.
2 Imagine the Future, submission to the Eastern Arterial Extension and Ringwood By Pass Panel of Review by the Koonung Mullum Forestway Association, February 1990 (78 pp.); Let’s Make the Future, submission to the Study of Eastern Corridor Transport Options by the Koonung Mullum Forestway Association and Public Transport Users’ Association, May 1991 (55 pp.).