More opportunities for more trees to be planted as part of the designs for these 3 major projects are also being created.

North East Link

Longer tunnels to Watsonia and simpler interchanges have created more space for new parklands, wetlands, and tree planting along new and upgraded walking and cycling paths and upgraded local roads.

We’re delivering:

  • 5 MCGs of new community parklands and wetlands along a revitalised Banyule Creek at Borlase Reserve in Yallambie
  • a new tree-lined boulevard for Greensborough Road with wider, shaded walking and cycling paths
  • a new 1800m2 cultural wetland precinct along the Yarra River in Bulleen
  • a 2 hectare Yarra Link green bridge over Bulleen Road in Bulleen.

For North East Link, trees have been planted early at Simpson Barracks, Yallambie, Rosanna Parklands, Rosanna, Montpelier Reserve, Templestowe and Westerfolds Park, Lower Plenty.

Eastern Freeway Upgrades

As part of the first stage from Burke Road to Tram Road, we’re delivering:

  • more than 1.8 million new plants, including over 10,000 trees
  • extensive planting to reinstate Koonung Creek Reserve and Valda Wetlands, shade walking and cycle paths, and filter views of noise walls.

We’ve also minimised the area needed for construction to protect trees along Kosciuszko Street and Carron Street, Balwyn North.

For the Eastern Freeway Upgrades, trees have been planted early at Belle Vue Primary School, Balwyn North, Hyde Park, Kew, Katrina Gully Reserve, Doncaster, Morris Williams Reserve, Bulleen, Memorial Park, Box Hill North, R.E. Gray Reserve, Nunawading and Slater Reserve, Blackburn North.

M80 Ring Road Completion

We’re delivering:

  • 4000+ new trees
  • new Ring Road wetlands, with more space for trees and plants and a new habitat area between Plenty Gorge and Plenty River
  • improved green spaces for Trist Street Reserve and AK Lines Reserve with new wetlands, indigenous trees and plants
  • 2 new landscaped bridges at Watsonia Road and Elder Street, with generous space for plants

For the M80 Ring Road Completion, trees have been planted early at Watsonia Primary School, Watsonia and local streets near the Ring Road in Greensborough.

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Significant trees and plants

We’re working to increase the number of significant trees and plants near North East Link tunnelling construction including the Studley Park Gum tree and Matted Flax-lily.

Seeds from Studley Park Gum trees have been collected, grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and planted in Yarra River parklands. More than 300 trees have been planted so far, replacing each of up to 52 trees expected to be removed to build North East Link with at least 2.

Matted Flax-lilies have also been carefully moved away from tunnelling construction areas, ready for planting in new locations. We expect up to 139 Matted Flax-lily plants will need to be moved to build North East Link. More than 450 will be planted – establishing new populations more than 3 times the size. The first Matted Flax-lilies were planted in August, 2022 at Cherry Street Reserve, Macleod.

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FAQ