[ Home ] [ Have Your Say ] [ The Options ] [ Public Meeting ] [ Contacts ]

Eastern Freeway Tunnel Group

Table Comparing the Options

Notes to the table:

  1. The use of centralised vents means it would be possible to remove air pollutants before emitting the exhaust gases.
  2. Currently a variation is being sought which would avoid Savaris Court.
  3. Only half of the second, very short tunnel, is in a proper tunnel, the rest is a "cut and cover" tunnel, which is constructed by digging a deep trench, installing a tunnel tube and then covering it over.
  4. The ecological impact of subsurface tunnelling beneath the vegetation is still uncertain.
  5. Length of walls for both sides for the whole 4.6 km freeway.

Issue

Impact

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4
 

Destruction of Nationally Significant Vegetation.

Extreme

Zero(4)

Zero(4)

High
 

Hillcrest Forestway.

Destroyed

minor affect

Unaffected

Destroyed

Animals

Destruction of wildlife corridor, habitat, refuges and trees.

Highest

Low

Lowest

High

and

Fragmentation & reduction of biodiversity.

Highest

Low

Lowest

High

Plants

Impact on endangered species (e.g. Powerful Owl).

Highest

Low

Lowest

High
 

Spread of weeds.

High

Low

Low

High

Air

Air pollution.

Extreme

Low

Lowest

Extreme

Quality

Vent stacks (see note 1).

no

yes

yes

no

Noise

Noise pollution, especially at night.

Extreme

Low

Lowest

Extreme
 

Length (visual impact) of noise walls (note 5).

8.6km

4.9km

5.5km

8.2km
 

Reduction in property values and resident lifestyle.

Extreme

Low(2)

Lowest

Very high
 

Destruction of recreational areas.

High

Low

Low

High
 

Impact on general health.

Highest

Low

Lowest

High

Social

Aboriginal culture/sites impact.

Destroyed

Unaffected

Unaffected

Destroyed
 

Cultural heritage loss.

Highest

Low

Lowest

High
 

Loss of an environmental education resource.

Highest

Low

Lowest

Highest
 

Night-time lighting impacts.

Highest

Low

Lowest

High
 

Mullum Mullum Creek pollution.

Highest

Low

Lowest

High
 

Mullum Mullum Creek realignment.

Yes

No

No

Yes

Water

Significant increase in water runoff and soil erosion.

Yes

No

No

Yes
 

Hillcrest Forestway tributary (habitat of rare ferns and koalas swamp gums).

Destroyed

Unaffected

Unaffected

Destroyed
 

Value of lost bushland.

Extreme

Low

Low

Very High

Economics

Long term increase in Council costs.

yes

no

no

yes
 

Landscaping costs.

High

Very Low

Very Low

High
 

Construction capital cost.

$263 M

$321 M

$366 M

$302 M

Tunnels

Tunnel length.

Shortest
0.59 km

Long
1.6 km

Longest
2.1 km

Short(3)
0.59 km plus a second very short tunnel

[ Home ] [ Have Your Say ] [ The Options ] [ Public Meeting ] [ Contacts ]
Background image © : Adiantum aethiopicum (Maidenhair Fern)