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Summary of document

North East Link (‘the project’) is a proposed new freeway-standard road connection that would complete the missing link in Melbourne’s ring road, giving the city a fully completed orbital connection for the first time. North East Link would connect the M80 Ring Road (otherwise known as the Metropolitan Ring Road) to the Eastern Freeway, and include works along the Eastern Freeway from Springvale Road to near Hoddle Street.

The project would also improve existing bus services from Doncaster Road to Hoddle Street through the Doncaster Busway, as well as pedestrian connections and the bicycle network, with connected walking and cycling paths from the M80 Ring Road to the Eastern Freeway.

North East Link Project (NELP) is proposing to salvage and translocate approximately 139 individual plants/patches of Matted Flax-lily. Salvage and translocation will be undertaken by NELP, a division of the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority, on behalf of the State of Victoria.

Within the project area, Matted Flax-lily has been identified within the:

• M80 Ring Road reserve
• Hurstbridge line rail corridor
• Commonwealth land (Simpson Barracks site).

The proposed timing of translocation depends on when project planning and environmental approvals are received and on project procurement. The initial salvage event occurred on 1 April 2020 for plants along the new boundary fence of Simpson Barracks. Further salvage for the fire/patrol track at Simpson Barracks occurred on 2 September 2020, with the remainder in 2021-2022 after the project design has been finalised. Timing of translocation is yet to be determined.

Alteration to this program may be considered if suitable conditions are prevalent or if early human intervention is likely to lead to higher salvage success rates. Translocation is proposed to be undertaken within 2 years of salvage; subject to both the conditions of the plants at the time of salvage, and the conditions of the recipient site(s).

The objectives of the salvage and translocation plan are to:

• Provide background on the project, Matted Flax-lily and Arching Flax-lily, and the regulatory requirements for translocation.
• Identify Matted Flax-lily and Arching Flax-lily plants to be salvaged.
• Outline the criteria and process for the selection of suitable recipient site(s) for the translocated plants.
• Provide details on pre- and post-translocation management actions for the salvage and recipient sites.
• Establish clear and effective protocols for the salvage, translocation, propagation, management and monitoring of plants that must be removed prior to project construction.
• Identify roles and responsibilities for the parties involved in the translocation process.
• Establish benchmarks for translocation success.
• Outline future reporting requirements and provide guidelines for potential contingency and adaptive-management measures during the monitoring period.
• Satisfy regulatory requirements under Australian Government and Victorian Government legislation.