My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. Minister, how will the North East Link project benefit Glen Waverley district constituents?
The North East Link project is the biggest ever investment in improved roads in the east. It will connect an upgraded Eastern Freeway to a completed M80 Ring Road with Victoria’s longest twin road tunnels, and that means big time savings for Glen Waverley district residents, including 11 minutes sliced off journeys to Hoddle Street and a staggering 35 minutes shaved off journeys to the ring road.
It is terrific news for our community, especially for residents in Vermont and Forest Hill who are frequent users of the Eastern Freeway. It is these investments in transport infrastructure, whether it is the North East Link, the Suburban Rail Loop or level crossing removals, that will enhance livability in our community as Melbourne grows, and I am proud to be part of the Allan Labor government, which is making these projects a reality.
I thank my community for their patience while we get it done.
Minister’s Response:
I thank the Member for Glen Waverley for his question and for his advocacy for this important project.
North East Link will fix the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network, taking 15,000 trucks off local roads and slashing travel times by 35 minutes.
For a tradie in Glen Waverley, it will open up jobs in Bundoora. A small business in Burwood can access markets and warehousing in Tullamarine or a kid from Forest Hill can get to university at La Trobe.
In addition to Victoria’s longest road tunnels – which we’ve extended to Watsonia – we’ll overhaul the Eastern Freeway from Hoddle Street to Springvale Road and build Melbourne’s first dedicated busway.
The massive upgrade of the Eastern Freeway will include more than 45 kilometres of extra lanes and new technology where it is needed most to keep traffic moving.
Travel times between Springvale Road and Hoddle Street will be slashed by 11 minutes and six express lanes will mean smoother trips between Middleborough Road and Chandler Highway, reducing merging and weaving that causes congestion today.
Melbourne’s first dedicated busway along the Eastern Freeway will make it quicker and easier to get to and from the city. The Eastern Express busway will include 11 kilometres of dedicated express bus lanes, with buses travelling up to 100km/h and a bus every minute during the peak creating a 30 per cent reduction on commuter travel time.
A brand-new Park and Ride has been built in Bulleen and the Doncaster Park and Ride will be upgraded, doubling the number of commuter parking spaces for express bus services to the city.
In a joint partnership with Monash Council, the Victorian Government is investing $21 million in a new Monash Tennis Centre at the Glen Waverley Sports Hub to keep local sports clubs thriving as it builds the North East Link. Construction is nearing completion, and the new facility will feature a regional level tennis facility with 18 courts including two show courts, golf practice facilities, public open space improvements, car parking, a pavilion and cafe and supporting infrastructure.
The tennis centre will be the new home for tournaments replacing a former tennis centre in Boroondara, which is located on land needed for a crucial interchange to connect the North East Link to an upgraded Eastern Freeway.
North East Link and the upgrades to the M80 Ring Road and Eastern Freeway are also providing more job opportunities for people in the east. These projects combined will create more than 12,000 jobs during construction, with over 4,900 workers already employed on these projects. When complete, the improved accessibility provided by the North East Link will make 56,000 more job opportunities to people who live in the north, east, and south-east by generating new economic and business growth.
I thank the member for his support while we get on with delivering this critical project.
Hon Danny Pearson MP
Minister for Transport Infrastructure
