Many community members raised concerns about the impact of the Eddington Report Recommendations on J.J.HollandPark, through your efforts and my advocacy I can assure you that the Plan specifically rejects the use of the park for either staging or construction of a road tunnel. Once again thank you to everyone who made a submission.Read more here - http://www.bronwynpike.com/
Bianca Hall
KENSINGTON'S JJ Holland Park will never be used for a freeway staging post, Melbourne MLA Bronwyn Pike has promised.
The Victorian Government released its long-awaited $38.5 billion transport blueprint on Monday, in response to Sir Rod Eddington's east-west transport plan.
Sir Rod controversially recommended the Government construct a road tunnel and freeway between the Western Ring Road and Eastern Freeway, using Royal Park in Parkville and JJ Holland Park as staging posts.
In July, Ms Pike invited Premier John Brumby to tour JJ Holland Park, which is heavily used by housing estate residents and sporting community groups.
"Being able to bring the Premier down in person and getting him to see what the park means in person was a real turning point," she said.
The promise was welcomed by Save Holland Park campaigner Cory Boardman. "I'm ecstatic that it does mention JJ Holland Park by name - I think the community's really got behind this."
But the Government committed to constructing a road tunnel from Footscray to the Port of Melbourne, and it has indicated it intends to build a road from the port to the Eastern Freeway in the future.
The blueprint also includes a plan to investigate south-bound overpasses on Hoddle Street at Johnston Street, Victoria Street, Bridge Road and Swan Street to relieve congestion off the Eastern Freeway at Clifton Hill.
Richard MLA Richard Wynne said the transport plan closely resembled his submission to the Eddington inquiry, placing emphasis on public transport over roads.
Chief among public projects is a rail tunnel between Footscray and the Domain, at a cost of more than $4.5 billion. The Government plans to begin construction of the section between Footscray and Flinders Street first - probably by the middle of the next decade.
...Education Minister Bronwyn Pike has risked her political future by backing the road tunnel, which will run through the heart of her Melbourne electorate.
by Clay Lucas
CRITICS of a $9 billion road tunnel plan have been barred from a Government forum this afternoon to discuss transport plans for Melbourne.The move has led to fresh claims the State Government is attempting to marginalise groups that do not agree with its plans.
Opponents of the proposed 18-kilometre tollway, which would run from Footscray to Clifton Hill, have been told they cannot attend today's forum, being staged by the Education Minister and MP for Melbourne, Bronwyn Pike.
The transport forum, at Ms Pike's North Melbourne electorate office, is one in a series being staged by Government MPs.
Premier John Brumby last week said the forums were proof his Government was listening to the public's views on transport, ahead of a Government transport strategy to be unveiled in November.
Three community groups that oppose the toll-road plan, asked this week to attend Ms Pike's forum, but were denied invitations, although the Royal Park Protection Group was later included after complaining to the Department of Transport.
Brian Walters, SC, who lives in the eastern suburbs, is from the group, Protectors of Public Lands. He was told the forum was "an invitation-only session to local residents' associations".
Mr Walters, a former president of Liberty Victoria, said the Government could not control a guest list and then claim to have consulted the community.
Ascot Vale group the Mount Alexander Road Campaign Committee was also excluded.
Ms Pike said she had invited a cross-section of the community to the forum.
Read original article at TheAge.com.au
Read the statement regarding these forums from the Premier's Website here. It appears that this North Melbourne one has been added since the forums were first planned, as are ones scheduled for Friday 29/8 for the Brunswick and Richmond. We would suggest you contact the Department of Transport if your community group has not received an invitation.
The Premier braved a frosty reception at a threatened park. Bianca Hall reports
Dogwalkers were out in force despite the frosty morning air when Premier John Brumby visited Kensington's JJ Holland Park last week.
Fringed by native trees, the park provides a sanctuary for thousands of people living in highrise towers, young families, local sporting clubs and the always present dogwalkers.
Residents' groups have accused Melbourne MLA Bronwyn Pike of ignoring their concerns about the park's future if the Government goes ahead with a $10 billion freeway and road tunnel linking the Eastern Freeway with the Western Ring Road.
Sir Rod Eddington's report identifies JJ Holland Park and Royal Park as staging areas for the tunnel, so on Thursday Ms Pike brought her boss to Kensington to see just what was at stake.
As they walked, the pair was constantly reminded of the community's outrage at the tunnel proposal.
The Greens have distributed thousands of "No Road Tunnel" signs to residents. The green triangles line the windows of the Kensington Community Centre [That would be the childcare centre actually- ED], located in the park, and dominate the windows of nearby homes.
"So as you can see, there's a few protest signs around the place," Ms Pike said.
Mr Brumby gave a short nod.
"I saw a few driving past... Anyone who lives near a park would want to keep their park I understand that," he said.
Mr Brumby said it was impossible to guarantee that parkland would be retained if the runnel was constructed.
"I can never make guarantees that no public space will ever be affected, and in a sense it's a hypothetical question," he said.
"You know, we haven't made a decision about the tunnel or any of the projects in (the) Eddington (report), and we may proceed or we may not.
"If we don't (proceed), well the issue wouldn't arise, so I'm not in a position to answer hypothetical questions, but I am in a position to get all the information so that we make a balanced decision."
Mr Brumby acknowledged his Government had a tough policy problem on its hands.
"We've had record growth in public transport, and to be fair, no one could have foreseen that petrol prices would be $1.70 a litre," he said.
"The world price of oil four years ago was $25 a barrel, and now it's $130 a barrel, so we've seen just huge an rapid growth."
However, the Government appears set to disappoint innercity campaigners who want an embargo on new roads and billions channelled into public transport.
"Is it true to say that we're never going to need another road?" Mr Brumby asked.
"I mean, it's not. You've got to kee investing in public transport as the ci continues to grow, but we've also got use our infrastructure more efficiently."
"And if you look out in the eastern suburbs at the moment ... you can't find a soul there who doesn't think EastLink not fantastic, because all of the suburban roads now are carrying 30-40 per cent less traffic."
"Properly designed major road projects can take a lot of pressure off suburban streets and improve quality of life."
As a local resident as well as a parliamentary representative, I am
very aware that open space is limited and therefore treasured by
inner city residents and its preservation must be a clear focus of
any future works.
Travancore Park, Debneys Park, Princes Park, Royal Park and JJ
Holland Park all provide a range of sporting, recreation and
community facilities which are shared by the thousands of local
residents with the many visitors who are attracted to come to them.
Should a tunnel go ahead it must not reduce the size or amenity of
these vital public spaces.
While some disturbance may be unavoidable during the construction
phase of any tunnel, the community must be provided with
alternative facilities for the activities undertaken in these Parks.
Any damage to the parks must be remediated following
construction, and it would be logical to use the opportunity to
revitalise and renew the community facilities within them at the
same time, with local communities playing a key role in shaping the activity centres for the future.
Bronwyn Pike's email is bronwyn.pike@parliament.vic.gov.au. Email her and let her know what you think, and which way you'll be voting.
STATE cabinet ministers have reported a backlash in their electorates over plans for a $9 billion road tunnel running from Footscray to Clifton Hill.
But in a move that could put Education Minister Bronwyn Pike's political future at risk, she has not opposed the 18-kilometre tunnel - which would run through the heart of her electorate.
"I am not making a firm commitment on any aspect of Sir Rod Eddington's report," Ms Pike said yesterday.
In her submission in response to Sir Rod's $20 billion transport plan for Melbourne, Ms Pike said many in her electorate were telling her "loud and clear that they are very concerned" about the potential impacts of the tunnel.
Ms Pike, who held her seat of Melbourne against the Greens by just 600 votes at the 2006 State election, did not oppose the plan in her submission. But she said she would fight to ensure no parkland or amenity was lost if it was built.
The road would begin in either Altona or Sunshine and continue to CityLink, and Kensington's J. J. Holland Park would be partially consumed by exit and entry "portals" for the tunnel. Out of 2000 submissions, several hundred were from Kensington residents opposing the tunnel.
Greens state MP Greg Barber, whose party is opposed to the building of any road tunnel, said Ms Pike had tried to obscure her position on the subject. "The state seat of Melbourne is ground zero for this disaster," he said. "How does the member for the seat most affected think she can get away with sitting on the fence?"
The Government is working on a major transport plan for Melbourne, which will be released in November.
Asked whether she could remain in cabinet if the road tunnel went ahead, Ms Pike replied: "I think it's too premature to talk about the specific projects that will be there as part of the Government's comprehensive transport plan."
Local Government Minister and Richmond MP Dick Wynne, whose electorate includes Carlton and Clifton Hill, said in his submission that the road tunnel would cause "profound economic, environmental and social disruption".
He supported a road tunnel from the western suburbs to CityLink, but said it was too early to say if a second stage was needed from CityLink to the Eastern Freeway. That stage should only be considered once Sir Rod's other road and rail proposals were complete.
The road tunnel has been backed by three federal ministers - Julia Gillard, Nicola Roxon and Brendan O'Connor - as well as influential MP Bill Shorten. Strong support for it has also come from unions, toll road companies and some western suburbs councils.
Read the original article at http://www.theage.com.au/national/ministers-seat-at-risk-over-road-tunnel-plan-20080717-3gxt.html
For the record, the Federal Member for Melbourne, Lindsay Tanner, opposes the tunnel, and would prefer money goes to public transport. You may want email him as well. lindsay.tanner.MP@aph.gov.au
This is not a federal government issue, but the state government has said that they will be calling upon the federal government for funds, and seeing how Lindsay Tanner is the Minister for Finance, it's worth a quick chat....I know that the issue of a road tunnel is a key concern of Kensington residents, particularly as to how it relates to Holland Park. But I also urge you to make your views heard on the other facets of the Eddington Report. I am working hard to ensure that improvements to public transport, bike paths, and removing trucks from residential streets remain the focus of the Government's response to the Report.
I, along with many local residents, have strong views about retaining sites which are environmentally significant or which are important to local communities. I will continue to represent those views at the highest levels of Government.
I will be making a formal submission as part of my contribution to this process, which i will make available to the Kensington Association, and to any individual residents who request a copy.
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