The community in Melbourne’s west will have a new forum to share information and provide feedback while the West Gate Tunnel Project is being built, with the first meeting of the new Community Liaison Groups (CLG) last week.
Two groups have been formed – a West CLG and a North CLG with over 25 representatives from suburbs in the west, inner west, and community groups – doubling the community representation from the planning phase.
The new groups build on the success of the planning phase Community Liaison Group which was instrumental in advocating on behalf of the community, in addition to other community groups and agencies that made submissions during the Environment Effects Statement.
As a result of that feedback, and in consultation with the broader community, new open space has been included in the project design, existing open space will be enhanced, more trees will be planted, walking and cycling facilities have been increased, a higher noise standard set and the ventilation structures have been moved away from houses.
The members of the new groups were appointed following an Expression Of Interest process advertised in local papers, multicultural media, on social media and through the project’s community newsletter.
Based on feedback from the planning phase CLG, two groups have been set up to represent different areas– the west will cover the council areas of Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Brimbank, and the north will cover Maribyrnong and Melbourne.
Their locations represent suburbs near where the project is being built, and users of major roads that will be affected by traffic disruptions.
The two groups will meet together from time to time to ensure that all the representatives have a shared knowledge of the overall project during the construction phase.
The members will bring an important local perspective on how the project is being delivered, provide a direct avenue of communication between the community and the project team, and share local information.
People are encouraged to get in contact with their local Community Liaison Group members if they want to find out more about the project or pass feedback on.
CLG information, including a list of representatives, can be found on our Community Representatives webpage. The West and North Community Liaison Groups’ meetings started this month and then alternate monthly.
Quotes attributable to Peter Sammut, CEO Western Distributor Authority
“The Community Liaison Groups are critical to our engagement across the project area and we value the input of participants.”
“They are a great way for local communities to understand what is happening during construction and share local information.”
“The new members of the construction phase CLG, who have volunteered their time, have strong and diverse links to their communities and will represent the areas in which they live.”
“This is an exciting phase of the project and a great opportunity to be part of the development of one the largest road projects underway in Victoria.”