Stage 2

Project update

We’re continuing our planning and development work to upgrade Yan Yean Road. You might see us out and about in the project area carrying out site investigations to help us refine the project design and provide the best outcome for road users, the environment and the community.

We’re also working hard to address the outcomes of the Minister’s Assessment and update the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) and Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) for the project, which we anticipate will be finalised by the end of 2024.

Overview

We’re upgrading Yan Yean Road between Kurrak Road, Yarrambat and Bridge Inn Road, Doreen. The upgrade will build on benefits provided by Yan Yean Road Upgrade - Stage 1 to improve safety and traffic flow through Plenty, Yarrambat and Doreen.

Yan Yean Road Upgrade – Stage 2 will:

build a new lane in each direction between Kurrak and Bridge Inn roads
replace the roundabouts at Orchard and Bridge Inn roads with new traffic lights
install new traffic lights at North Oatlands Road, Bannons Lane and Jorgensen Avenue
build new roundabouts at Heard Avenue and Youngs Road
upgrade the signalised intersection at Ironbark Road
build new walking and cycling paths along both sides of Yan Yean Road.

The upgrade will:

improve safety and traffic flow
create more consistent and reliable journeys
make it easier and safer for you to walk and cycle around your local area.

A map of the Yan Yean upgrade highlighting service roads,upgraded intersection with roundabouts, upgraded intersection with traffic lights, left in left out access, suitable for heavy vehicle u-turns, new walking/cycling paths, new footpath and two lanes in each direction.

Changes to the way you travel

There will be changes to the way you travel on Yan Yean Road. Once the upgrade is complete, you’ll only be able to turn left in and left out of most local roads and properties along Yan Yean Road.

Instead of turning right when you enter or exit Yan Yean Road, you’ll need to turn left and travel to your nearest U-turn opportunity to safely turn around.

Safe right turn and U-turn opportunities will be provided at each of the eight upgraded intersections along Yan Yean Road.

An additional heavy vehicle U-turn opportunity will be available on Doctors Gully Road for eastbound vehicles to turn around and travel west towards the upgraded Bridge Inn Road intersection.

This will greatly improve traffic flow and safety by preventing drivers from attempting risky uncontrolled right turns and directing traffic to designated locations to turn right or U-turn.

Site investigations

To help inform our planning, we’ll need to complete some site investigations. When we’re working close to the roadside, we might need to implement traffic control measures to keep our workers safe. This could include temporary lane closures, stop/slow traffic and lower speeds. We’ll plan our roadside site investigations carefully to keep traffic disruption to a minimum and avoid busy periods.

Planning and development

Yan Yean Road Upgrade – Stage 2 went through an Environment Effects Statement (EES) process in 2020. The Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) appointed by the Minister for Planning to assess the EES, prepared a detailed report and made a recommendation to the Minister for Planning in February 2021.

In March 2021, the Minister for Planning released their Assessment following the exhibition of the EES and concluded that the upgrade could proceed with some recommended updates to the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) and Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs).

In 2021, the project obtained the following planning and environment approvals required to upgrade Yan Yean Road:

April 2021 - Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC). The EPBC Act enables the Australian Government to join with the states and territories to provide a national scheme of environment and heritage protection and biodiversity conservation. The EPBC Act focuses Australian Government interests on the protection of matters of national environmental significance, with the states and territories having responsibility for matters of state and local significance.
August 2021 - Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA), which establishes a framework to manage environmental effects associated with the road upgrade through an Incorporated Document. The draft PSA was exhibited during the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process. When the PSA was approved, the Public Acquisition Overlay (PAO) was also approved.
December 2021 – A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP), which assesses the potential impact to Aboriginal cultural heritage and how that heritage can be best protected was approved by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

We’re in the process of updating the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) and Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) for the project, in-line with the outcomes of the Minister’s Assessment. The EMF provides a framework to effectively manage environmental effects associated with the road upgrade. The EPRs set the standards for the upgrade and are put in place to minimise any adverse local effects on people and environment. We anticipate the EMF and EPRs for the project will be finalised by late 2024.

Next steps