The Eastern Freeway Tunnel Group (EFTG) described today's announcement by the State Government, that Option 2 (with some variations) would be adopted for the extension of the Eastern Freeway, as a vast improvement on Options 1 & 4. Option 2 will offer some protection for the valley.

EFTG recognises that this government has come a long way from the surface freeway proposal originally put forward by VicRoads, which would have totally destroyed the Mullum Mullum Valley. However EFTG and the community still consider that Option 3 is the best option available for the protection of the valley and are very disappointed that this option has not been chosen.

Option 3 is the only one that meets the wider community’s conservation values. During the government's consultation process earlier this year, the community clearly and overwhelmingly supported Option 3 over any other options. This was made evident at public meetings and by letters and submissions to the Department of Infrastructure.

It must be noted that the government proposal (Option 2) will still result in unacceptable and unnecessary social impact on housing adjacent to the freeway route. Option 2 will also impact on the Hillcrest area, which provides significant vegetation and habitat, and acts as a refuge for many species of fauna including Koalas, the Powerful Owl and Sugar Gliders. In addition, this proposal will result in the partial destruction of a major community amenity in the Melbourne urban environment.

There are several other disappointing factors about the government decision -

• The government has failed to undertake an environmental impact assessment prior to the selection of the option, which breaks one of Labor's election promises.
• The government does not appear to have considered long term cost benefits of implementing Option 3 over Option 2 (as outlined in detail in the EFTG submission to government)
• Some of the VicRoads information that was supplied to the government for the community consultation process was incomplete and inaccurate.

Contact: