Lose some!

It's VERY important to realise that many people believe that building a road tunnel is a GOOD idea. It falls to each and every one of us to let them know why we think they are incorrect...

BRIMBANK City Council has supported the proposed east-west road tunnel route that will have the most impact on Brimbank residents through the possible destruction of homes and parklands.

At its meeting on Tuesday night the council endorsed its submission to the East West Links Need Assessment by Sir Rod Eddington, which identified two possible routes that start in the western suburbs and link to the Eastern Freeway at Hoddle St.

The report, tabled at the meeting, shows the council supports, as priorities, the proposed 17km rail tunnel and the rail connection from Werribee to Sunshine.

It also supports the road tunnel option that would connect the Deer Park bypass at the Western Ring Road in Derrimut to the Eastern Freeway in Clifton Hill.

This option would see a tunnel built under Footscray and the Maribyrnong River, along the general alignment of Buckley St, connecting Geelong Rd and Sunshine Rd to Footscray Rd and Dynon Rd.

It would be only in the longer term that this road tunnel route would link to the Deer Park bypass along the alignment of the Tottenham rail yards.

Sunshine homeowners are expected to raise concerns at an information session hosted by the council at the Glengala Community Centre tonight that their homes and parklands will be destroyed to construct this road tunnel option.

Friends of Kororoit Creek member and Sunshine homeowner Debbie Woods raised concerns last week in Star that the State Government would compulsory acquire her home for the proposed road tunnel.

Ms Woods said if her home was acquisitioned, the State Government’s pay-out would not be more than market value — $270,00 at the moment — and because she is about 50 she would struggle to get another home loan.

As well as the public information session tonight, Councillor Ken Capar successfully moved a motion at Tuesday night’s meeting for a second public information session to be held at Deer Park’s Sassella Park Community Centre at a date to be set.

The council’s submission also recommends the State Government considers the duplication and electrification of the rail line to Caroline Springs and Melton to be completed immediately after the rail tunnel has been built.

Originally at http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/60771