1 September 2025
We’re upgrading the Eastern Freeway to slash travel times and improve public transport in Melbourne’s east. We’re also delivering one of the biggest tree planting programs for a major road project in Victoria.
The Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Tram Road to Springvale Road will build new express lanes, new walking and cycling paths and bridges and return improved green spaces along Koonung Creek.
The Eastern Freeway Upgrades will connect seamlessly with the new 6.5 km North East Link — linking Melbourne’s east with the Ring Road, slashing travel times by 35 minutes and taking 15,000 trucks off local roads a day.
To deliver these major upgrades, areas of open space along the freeway will be needed to support construction, and trees will need to be removed and replaced through new planting.
For every tree removed, at least 2 will be planted, including new trees to reinstate Eram Park and Junction Road Reserve, shade walking and cycle paths, and filter views of noise walls.
We’ve also started planting trees early in local streets, parks and reserves.
Tree planting and revegetation
More than 2,000 trees and over 1 million shrubs, grasses and groundcovers will be planted for the Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Tram Road to Springvale Road — returning improved open spaces where it is needed to support construction.
In response to community feedback, works to reinstate areas of Eram Park and Junction Road Reserve needed to support construction will increase the number of trees and plants, provide new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, and return large open grassed areas for people to use.
Where a section of Koonung Creek at Eram Park needs to be moved away from construction works, we’ll increase its exposure to natural light, and plant new indigenous trees and plants to enhance this important wildlife corridor.
Additional planting for sections of Koonung Creek from Eram Park to Junction Road Reserve will also enhance existing trees and plants and improve the health of the creek.
We’ll be planting indigenous trees and vegetation from local regions, including fast-growing native species, with works carefully staged to return open space to the public as soon as possible, following landscaping and tree planting.
Minimising tree and vegetation removal
Minimising tree and vegetation removal is a priority for the project and there are strict environmental performance requirements and approvals in place.
We know trees are important to the local community and will be working hard to keep and protect as many trees as possible.
At Eram Park, we’ve refined the freeway design to return more space for trees and plants than the original design.
We’ll also be working to keep as many of the existing concrete noise walls as possible to minimise tree removal.
Extensive environmental surveys, including field studies and digital mapping, are used to determine which trees need to be protected and which trees need to be replaced through new planting. Where tree removal can’t be avoided, we will be working with qualified ecologists and arborists to plan and manage how works will take place.
To ensure trees and vegetation are correctly identified — and protected where possible — a rigorous process of fencing, flagging and final review by an expert arborist occurs before works start. Regular inspections are also undertaken by an Independent Environmental Auditor.
Protecting wildlife
Extensive field surveys will help identify animals that will need to be re-homed. Before work starts, qualified ecologists and animal handlers will find and safely move animals to a similar habitat nearby.
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