Simpson Barracks
- Meares House Gardens and close to North East Link works, Yallambie
Local primary schools
- Belle Vue Primary School, Balwyn North
- Watsonia Primary School, Watsonia
Yarra River parklands
- Montpelier Reserve, Lower Plenty
- Westerfolds Park, Templestowe
Sports upgrades
- Binnak Park, Watsonia North
- Ford Park, Bellfield
- Greensborough College, Greensborough
Local parks, reserves and nature strips with local councils
Banyule Council
- Rosanna Parklands, Rosanna
Boroondara Council
- Hyde Park, Kew
- Freeway Golf Course, Balwyn North
Manningham Council
- Katrina Gully Reserve, Doncaster
- Morris Williams Reserve, Bulleen
Whitehorse Council
- Heatherdale Creek Parklands, Mitcham
- Memorial Park, Box Hill North
- R.E. Gray Reserve, Nunawading
- Slater Reserve, Blackburn North
Nillumbik
- Brinawa Reserve, Greensborough
- Booyan Crescent, Collendina Crescent, Corowa Crescent, Dwyer Place, Eastgate Drive, Evrah Place, Goolgung Grove, Kilarney Ridge, Plenty River Drive, Senbin Court and Tuta Court, Greensborough
- Plenty River Drive Reserve, Greensborough
- Pooh Park, Greensborough
- Weemala Court Reserve, Greensborough
Around 16,000 trees, most along roadways, are expected to be removed to build North East Link as well as up to 52 hectares of native vegetation. A further 10,000 trees could also be impacted.
Keeping as many of these trees as we can is a major priority for the project and strict Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) are in place to do this.
Work to minimise the number of trees that need to be removed is happening now as part of detailed design work and construction planning.
Where tree removal cannot be avoided we’ll work closely with qualified ecologists and arborists to carefully plan and manage this.
A comprehensive assessment will be done to confirm the location and number of trees to be removed so they can be replaced through new planting, either in the same location or nearby.
More than 30,000 trees will be planted for the North East Link Program with at least 2 trees planted for every 1 removed.
But we’re not just counting how many trees go in the ground, we’re counting what they do. We’re working towards achieving a net gain in tree canopy cover by 2045.
Tree canopy is what you see when you look up, the cover from branches and leaves. Over time, trees planted for North East Link will grow to provide more of this cover than has been removed – helping to create a greener north and east.
As well as keeping as many trees as we can while we build North East Link, we’ll plant as many trees as possible as close as possible to where they have been removed. We’ll also plant trees to shade and cool local areas nearby.
Planting in places where trees have had to be removed for construction will start as soon as works in the area are finished or when the new trees can be protected.
Planting close to the project and in local suburbs nearby has already started and there will be opportunities to for the community to get involved later this year.
We’ve set these 3 planting priorities to help guide our work.
Tree planting priority 1
Along and near North East Link, as close as possible to where trees have been removed for construction. These trees will mostly help create green buffers between homes, noise walls and roads and to shade new or upgraded walking and cycling paths.
Tree planting priority 2
As close to construction areas as possible, ideally within 400m. These trees will help keep the benefits of new planting as close as possible to where trees have been removed. Trees planted near construction areas will mostly enhance existing parks, walking and cycling paths and community facilities.
Tree planting priority 3
Across the 6 council areas the project passes through – Banyule, Nillumbik, Manningham, Boroondara, Whitehorse and Yarra. These trees will help improve the look and feel of local areas and contribute to a healthier, better connected urban forest. We'll be guided by councils and local needs.
Because we’re working to achieve a net gain in tree canopy cover by 2045, it’s very important to us that trees planted for North East Link establish well, stay healthy and continue to grow.
We’ll be looking carefully at what’s needed to support trees and plants over the long-term including soil quality and requirements for ongoing maintenance.
Getting the planting conditions and maintenance right will vary from location to location. At Belle Vue Primary School, we installed an irrigation system to ensure the trees and plants get enough water. Other locations may need different approaches.
We've heard what the community has had to say about the River Red Gum on Bridge Street, Bulleen next to the Caltex Service Station site.
The project design for the Manningham Road interchange has been developed to avoid the tree. We’ll now keep making every effort to preserve the tree during construction.
We know this tree has great significance to the community and are also working to ensure we can grow new trees from its seeds if needed.