An Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the West Gate Tunnel Project has been released today, giving residents throughout the west a chance to have their say.
The West Gate Tunnel will reduce travel times, take trucks off residential streets and create 6000 new jobs.
The 10,000 page EES comprehensively assesses the environmental effects and benefits of the project which includes:
- taking more than 9000 trucks per day off residential streets in the inner west, as up to 67,000 vehicles use the new tunnels every day as an alternative to the West Gate Bridge
- cutting travel times by up to 20 minutes between Melbourne and the western suburbs, Geelong and Ballarat
- planting more than 17,000 trees including 4000 mature trees, replacing trees that need to be removed at a ratio of more than 3:1
- protecting the health of the community with the report finding that there will be no measurable change in the health of the community associated with the project.
Two custom-made Tunnel Boring Machines will be used to build the tunnel, shifting more than 1.5 million cubic metres of rock and soil.
Innovative construction methods will minimise disruptions on the West Gate Freeway and Footscray Road, maintaining all lanes during peak periods throughout construction.
The EES, EPA Works Approval application and draft Planning Scheme Amendment will be on public exhibition and open to comment until Monday 10 July.
Local residents and businesses can view the full EES online and it is on display at 14 locations across the western suburbs, Geelong and Ballarat.