Mary Merkenich, Candidate, Bolin Ward
1. Do you support, oppose or are you neutral regarding the NE Link Project including the widening of the Eastern Freeway?
I opposed the NE LINK as a member of the North East Link Alliance. I am a founding member of the North East Link Alliance, so I am very much opposed to the NE Link Project and the widening of the Eastern Freeway. The present circumstances of constant dust, noise, heavy traffic and lights for many residents is a huge burden and no-one, not State govt or the local council is offering any real support. I am also opposed to the widening or duplication of arterial roads, such as Templestowe Road. Rail to Doncaster should have been the project that our government invested it. I was on Manningham’s Advocacy for Rail to Doncaster committee under a previous Manningham Council.
2. What have you done so far in relation to the NE Link Project as part of your duties as a Councillor In order to negate its negative effects?
I am not currently a councillor but if elected I would prioritize supporting those affected. I would hold a meeting with residents to see what they want and need. I would suggest a campaign for compensation, including the free supply of air purifiers and double glazed glass for windows. I would seek to regulate the hours of work so that residents have some relief. I would also seek to connect with the workers. I have already met with some CFMEU members (delegates and rank & file members) to make them aware of the concerns of our community. They are working people just like you and me, well some of us are now retired!!! It is clear the same politicians and the same union bureaucrats who have sold out our community with this project, rather than supporting public transport, in particular Rail To Doncaster, are the same people demonizing ordinary CFMEU workers.
3. If elected, what will you commit to do in relation to the North East Link Project in the best interests of your constituents in order to protect public health, the environment, social amenity and liveability and the municipality’s obligations to mitigate climate change?
I would use the resources of a councillor to educate people about NELP, it’s current, ongoing & future impacts on our community, for example the disastrous health consequences, the destruction of our green spaces, the duplication of Templestowe Road. I would hold meetings with those most immediately & directly affected to campaign for compensation as mentioned above and any other requirements as suggested by them. I would work with local groups, such as the STOP NE Link Alliance, environmental groups and local indigenous people to implement a campaign about the NELP to prevent as much further damage, health impacts as possible and for improved public transport in Manningham. As we all know Manningham is the only Melbourne metropolitan region without a tram or train service. This is clearly unsustainable. There are residents who cannot drive, others who do not wish to do so and we must make it as easy as possible for people to travel without cars.
Climate change is already affecting many people in Australia. We in Manningham are not immune to this. High temperatures will cause some people to become very unwell. Our animals and their habitat will also be affected and consequently we will be poorer for it. The number of mature trees already slaughtered is disturbing and very short sighted. Trees remove and store carbon and when they are cut down all this carbon is released into the atmosphere. Our entire environment and society will change. Food will become more expensive and limited. These are just some of the most obvious consequences. A council needs to make people aware, to prepare and to mitigate and stop the damage that we can stop and repair what we can.
Deepak Joshi, Candidate, Currawong Ward
1. Do you support, oppose or are you neutral regarding the NE Link Project including the widening of the Eastern Freeway?
I am opposed to NELP and have supported your campaign from time to time. We need more investment in public transport projects, not toll roads which will bring more cars on the road, cause congestion, air pollution and will be destructive to the environment. NELP has affected residents and businesses that are in its path and has and continues to impact the region’s biodiversity.
2. What have you done so far in relation to the NE Link Project as part of your duties as a Councillor In order to negate its negative effects?
Not applicable as I am a first time candidate.
3. If elected, what will you commit to do in relation to the North East Link Project in the best interests of your constituents in order to protect public health, the environment, social amenity and liveability and the municipality’s obligations to mitigate climate change?
If elected, I will be regularly asking questions and moving motions to put forward the key issues that I am concerned about, namely, pollution, loss of green spaces, noise and any future risks to the communities impacted by this project. As a Greens Councillor, I will work with the other Greens Councillor, Tom Lightbody, if he is re-elected, to engage with residents and community groups to push back on any not-yet-known future plans connected with the project that are not in the interest of the people and the planet.
I agree with your statement that significant public transport reform for our region could have been achieved for a much lower cost, instead of the amount spent on NELP.
Tomas Lightbody, Candidate and current Councillor, Manna Ward
1. Do you support, oppose or are you neutral regarding the NE Link Project including the widening of the Eastern Freeway?
I oppose the project as a whole, we need to invest in Public Transport and Trains, not toll roads, the cost of the project could itself pay for several new and needed train lines. Widening the freeway has already and will continue to destroy public open greenspace, and impact biodiversity, this includes over 1km of the koonung creek being placed underground, which is a horrific outcome.
2. What have you done so far in relation to the NE Link Project as part of your duties as a Councillor In order to negate its negative effects?
There has not been much we can do unfortunately, during briefings I have been given vague answers to my questions and overall I do not believe feedback that I have given or questions I have asked have been taken on board by the North Eastlink Authority. myself and others have moved motions at council to put forward our key issues, including loss of trees, poor design outcomes, including that of the Doncaster Park and Ride proposal. I have asked questions on noise, pollution, loss of public space, green space and trees and I am very concerned about what will happen as the widening progresses down towards Springvale road.
Thus far, I have been very disappointed with NELA and their communication with us and the community, as well as their answers to questions when they come to brief us.
3. If elected, what will you commit to do in relation to the North East Link Project in the best interests of your constituents in order to protect public health, the environment, social amenity and liveability and the municipality’s obligations to mitigate climate change?
If re-elected I will continue to ask questions at our briefings, often I have to ask the same questions over and over again, very frustratingly. I will continue to push them to answer them in briefings. I also have started to talk to locals in my ward, close to the freeway about what risks are coming so that the community is engaged and ready to comment and push back on plans for the eastern package, which we have not yet seen. I want the council to use historical satellite images to create an audit of what vegetation has been lost, so that we can make sure it is replaced accurately, independent of what NELA will inevitably use to self-justify their actions.
I agree with the statements provided in your letter, they are not widening the Eastlink Tunnel, Hoddle Street or Alexander Pde (and can’t widen them), as such traffic will only get worse at these bottlenecks and similar can be said at the Northern end of the tunnel. It is an enormous waste of money, the cost of which would have paid for the Metro 2 tunnel, Doncaster Rail and probably Rowville Rail too. Funds could also be spent improving the freight rail network which is actually what will get more trucks off our roads.