Doncaster resident Nick Johnson can almost tolerate dust increasingly seeping into his family home and construction noises carrying on late into the night.
But a new push to extend the boundary of one of Victoria’s biggest projects right up to his back fence – which includes highly valued parkland – means the father-of-three is considering moving away.
“It was a real shock,” Johnson said.
“[I’m] Really disappointed the changes proposed weren’t in the initial plans.”
His home backs onto parkland near Tram Road Reserve that features tall trees along the Koonung Trail, about 250 metres from the Eastern Freeway, which is undergoing upgrades to connect in with the $26 billion North East Link.
In early May, authorities revealed a new proposal to expand the project boundary in eight spots along the freeway to allow for “further design work and construction planning”.
It’s prompted fierce backlash from councils, including concerns that the increased project-zone proposal is too broad, the loss of green space would hurt public amenity and has sparked calls for details on what exactly the land would be used for to be released publicly.
Johnson’s neighbour, Andrew, who asked not to use his last name, said he runs air-conditioners at home about 16 hours a day since his wife gave birth to their second daughter eight weeks ago.
He wants to filter out any dust that could come inside, which he attributes to ongoing construction works at nearby Eram Park, in Box Hill North, which is temporarily shut for construction work.
Andrew said his family stopped hanging washing outside and reduced how much time they spend in the local parks which were a key reason they moved to the area. The family received a $200 cleaning voucher after lodging a complaint about dust, but Andrew fears what could happen if the project zone gets even closer to home.
“I’m actually terrified of what the noise and disruption is going to be like on the little baby, it’s going to be really scary if there’s digging, banging noises, engines idling,” Andrew said.
The most significant proposed boundary change would impact parkland near Doncaster’s Tram Road and Blackburn North’s Koonung Creek Reserve. Other sections are in Balwyn North and Kew, in addition to small areas along the freeway at Fairfield and Mont Albert North.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny is considering the proposal. The project website states detailed design and construction plans would be developed after the minister decides whether to give approval, with the changes prompted by flood-mitigation needs and utility installation, including drainage upgrades.
An online petition to “protect” the Koonung Creek Trail and Tram Road Reserve has more than 350 signatures.
Residents in the area say they have increasingly used the reserve for exercise and recreation since Eram Park was shut, with plans to restore it as parkland once construction ends.
Local Carolyn Hall made a submission against the boundary expansion, believing the area is “desperate” for open space.
“I just feel railroaded and ripped off, I feel like all of these community consultations that they have, they just don’t listen,” she said.
Manningham mayor Jim Grivas said he was “deeply disappointed” the expansion proposal was not raised with council during a project briefing in mid-April, and that 48 properties in the municipality would be directly impacted.
He called for clearer justification for the changes and a more targeted approach to shifting the project zone.
“We’re concerned the proposed project boundary expansion is too broad, is not supported by sufficient detail, and could impact important open space, cultural and environmental areas,” Grivas said.
Whitehorse already stands to lose 31,000 square metres of open space to the North East Link and 5000 trees to Big Build projects, according to Whitehorse mayor Kirsten Langford.
She said the proposal could lead to a reduction in “precious” public open space and called for more details to be released as well as further public consultation.
“Our city is facing major population growth over the coming years, and it’s essential we continue to provide open, outdoor spaces,” Langford said.
The Wurundjeri Corporation raised concerns over the lack of detail on how the proposal could impact the area.
On the other side of the freeway, at Box Hill North, residents have mixed views on the boundary expansion.
Jenni Mountney is concerned about losing reserve access and is frustrated by freeway upgrade works behind her home.
“Lots of noise, it’s never-ending beeping and through the night you hear this banging sound,” she said.
However, Michelle Wills, who also lives next to freeway works, said while temporary parkland closures is a shame, she figures it’s “short-term pain for long-term gain”.
“It’s going to be better, the freeway needed to be better,” Wills said.
Neighbour Frank Chan hasn’t experienced disruptions and understood why land would need to be taken over for much-needed upgrades.
“I do walk that trail, but they got to do what they got to do,” he said.
Boroondara Council, which includes Kew, has not highlighted major concerns with the expansion.
The North East Link will link the Eastern Freeway to the M80 Ring Road through Bulleen by 2028. A spokesperson for the project said it would ultimately remove 15,000 trucks from local roads once opened.
“We know how important the Koonung Creek trail is to the community, which is why there are strict environmental controls to limit the impacts of construction on the environment and people in the area, as well as extensive community consultation,” they said.
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Rachael Ward is a journalist in the City team at The Age. Contact her at [email protected]Connect via email.From our partners
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