Thread by @yarra_campaign

#Livetweeting from #Manningham #NELink forum, where it's a full house, @tonybmorton currently providing background, talking about LA traffic issues, now explaining #inducedtraffic effect, especially when transport alternatives are poor

Now onto #NELink, origins in 1960s freeway plan, linking F18 / F19, prime objective making it 'easier' to drive into central Melbourne... then find a parking spot... Tony onto explaining the triple threat of #WestGateTunnel / #EWLink /#NELink

What's driving this massive road developments, despite poor BCR for #EWLink? @tonybmorton believes it's government allowing unsolicited proposals. And Transurban pushing their commercial interests

Why not choose good public transport solutions? Tony mentions poor, out dated traffic modelling. #NELink pushes old economic ideas and poor outcomes for future Melbourne residents

Next speaker: Michelle Giovas from @FriendsBanyule and Warringah Conservation Society on #NELink impacts upon local environment. Talks about how #NELink will remove community assets, public transport, parklands, open space, Banyule wetlands with reminant vegetation

Michelle detailing #NELink huge project impact, affects six municipal council areas in greater Melbourne. Massive freeway widening along eastern, not easily publicly available

Eastern freeway widening for #NELink includes new bridge at Merri Creek. New widening is an estimated TWENTY LANES WIDE #SpringSt

Michelle mentions #NELink has poor legend on it's map, actual project area footprint doesn't include Simpson Barracks, maybe 450 hectares of disturbed land, including Yarra flats, numerous billabongs and local creek headwaters. **Eastern fwy widening is 18km long**

#NELink design schematic is extremely confusing, intersections/crossings. Project management believe local creeks where replanting has occurred and wildlife now live are 'degraded'. Possibly to be replaced with barrow drains

Many endangered and special species live in #NELink project area, including fish, grasses, micro bats, birds. Many noticeable older habitat trees, culturally significant areas, Bolin Bolin billabong, songlines tree estimated to be 600 years old

#NWLink impacts we can't see: vehicle emissions, vibration, vegetation removal. Michelle mentions huge #WestGateTunnel tree removal, these were originally planted by the community

Michelle finishes on #NELink community impacts, school's, sport fields, golf course, open space

Samantha Dunn mentions we should view that 600 year old songlines tree, located in a local servo carpark (!) Next speaker: John Stone from Melbourne Uni, how communities come together to not allow their cities to be overwhelmed by cars, like #NELink

John mentions how Transurban moved quickly after 2014 #vicvotes to hijack Victorian transport agenda. EES/CIS processes around megaprojects are now designed to confuse the public, simply isn't worlds best practice. Their traffic modelling taken to court in QLD/NSW

Only reason for traffic modelling is to distort reality, it's for bankers and rent seekers, megaprojects like #NELink #EWLink #WestGateTunnel aren't developed as solutions to anything other than financial gain #SpringSt

John talks about lessons learnt from campaigns against #EWLink and F19, building strong engaged communities who want a better Melbourne.

John concludes: do we want $20-30 BILLION spent on megaprojects or do we want this money spent on hospitals, school's and public transport?#Springst #vicvotes

Now onto public Q and A session, speakers + local councillors from @ManninghamCC

Index finger requires a OH&S break, watch live streaming of @NELink #Manningham forum on facebook. More soon! m.facebook.com/story.php?stor… #GetOurBoardVic #SpringSt #auspol

Big round of applause when resident mentions she been waiting for #DoncasterRail for over 20 years. Tony Morton explains tired and predictably bureaucratic arguments against it. Mentions positive example in WA where govt built new line despite criticism #GetOnBoardVic #springst

Oh look, here's prior #DoncasterRail Study, time to reinvigorate a bigger, broader campaign so #NELink doesn't completely kill off existing reservation: ycat.org.au/archived-sites… Some #DoncasterRail history: ycat.org.au/history-of-the… #GetOnBoardVic #springst

#NELink #Manningham forum winding up, great points from audience: public health impact, #airpollution, poor public transport in NE Melbourne suburbs, no train line (#DoncasterRail, where for art thou?) running positive campaigns towards Nov 2018 #vicvotes #GetOnBoardVic

@SamanthaDunnMP discusses The Greens' plan for the North East, build upon DART, advocate for #DoncasterRail, keep existing rail reservation, look at tram extensions and new high quality rapid bus network/routes for Melbourne #springst #GetOnBoardVic

unroll @threadreaderapp pls