Managing construction impacts

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Managing construction impacts

North East Link Project has a number of major construction sites. All works on these sites are carefully planned and managed to make sure residents can continue to enjoy where they live, and business can continue to operate.

This page outlines what we are doing to manage the impacts during construction and how you can contact us if have questions.

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Dust

Overview

Dust on North East Link sites is something we need to manage constantly, especially on windy days. It's caused by a variety of works, including excavating and jackhammering. It's also caused by wind blowing across stockpiles of dirt, which are stored on site after excavation works.

It's important that we take measures to control dust caused by our works, as well as making sure dirt is covered at all times when leaving in trucks.

Mitigation measures

On site, there are multiple dust management strategies in place to minimise dust impacts. These include:

daily checks to make sure implemented dust controls are working
watering and/or stabilising exposed areas
covering truck loads
containing stockpiles with fabric and eco-friendly soil binding agents
reducing vehicle speeds on unsealed surfaces.

Air quality requirements

In accordance with our Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs), we’re monitoring air quality in real time at multiple locations. These locations are reviewed and approved by an independent auditor, and how we manage dust is endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If dust levels above acceptable standards are triggered, we’ll review levels and implement additional controls as required.

We use smart sensors such as SiteHive and Airmet systems to monitor air quality. These sensors will be triggered if they detect the dust particle concentration is greater than acceptable levels. Dust particles caused by construction works are generally less than 10 microns (0.0001mm) in size. If particles exceed this size, we’ll implement additional controls to manage this and ensure air quality continues to meet required standards and protect our community and workforce.

We also conduct daily and weekly inspections to monitor air quality across the project area.

National ambient air quality standards

PM₁₀

50 µg/m3 in outdoor air averaged over a 24-hour period
25 µg/m3 in outdoor air averaged over a year

PM_2.5

25 µg/m3 in outdoor air averaged over a 24-hour period
8 µg/m3 in outdoor air averaged over a year.

Understanding particulate matter

Under the National Environment Protection Measure for Ambient Air Quality, Australian governments have set a national ambient air quality standards for particulate matter.

The video below shows how air particulate size compares with everyday objects.

Dust FAQ's

Dust is caused by variety of construction activities, including:

earthworks
jack hammering
excavation
piling
hammering.

Dust is more common on dry, windy days, so we plan works around the weather forecast to limit dust impacts on the community.

Dirt stockpiles are large piles of soil that have been excavated from the ground. We keep them in large stockpiles so the dirt is easier to manage, allowing us to apply eco-friendly soil binding agents, water and fabric to reduce the impacts of dust on the community.

Eventually, the stockpiles are transported from site in covered trucks.

The dust created on-site is not harmful or toxic. We adhere to strict air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and outlined in our Environmental Performance Requirements (DOCX, 8.3 MB).

Air quality is monitored daily, and any exceedances of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) caused by our projects are responded to immediately.

We use the following processes to monitor dust levels across the project:

Smart sensors such as SiteHive and Airmet systems to monitor air quality. These sensors will be triggered if it detects the dust particle concentration is greater than acceptable levels.
Daily and weekly inspections to monitor air quality across the project area.
Air quality on our project is assessed by an independent auditor (PDF, 7.8 MB).

Noise

Overview

To keep traffic moving on freeways and arterial roads we regularly need to carry out works at night. Construction work creates noise, particularly during piling and jack-hammering rock. We work at night when what we are doing isn't suitable for the daytime. This includes heavily disruptive works that require multiple lane closures and works that need 24/7 operation, from start to finish.

We aim to undertake daytime works where possible and understand that noise created from nightworks can be disruptive and impactful to local residents.

Mitigation measures

On site, there are multiple noise management strategies in place to minimise noise. These include:

temporary and permanent noise walls
noise blankets
changing construction methods to minimise noise, such as using solar-powered lights instead of diesel generators.

For residents impacted by noise, we offer temporary relocation or white noise machines to support locals through noisy periods throughout the project.

Noise requirements

We work within our (Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs), which outline strict decibel readings that the project must be under. Prior to starting work at night, we must obtain approval from an Independent Environmental Auditor. As part of this process, we must demonstrate the need for the night works, produce modelling that predicts the noise impacts associated with the works, outline how we will manage the works on site and notify our local residents.

We manage impacts for nearby residents and businesses with a range of measures such as adjusting the time of planned works, offering temporary relocation, or changing construction methods to reduce noise. During construction, on-site noise monitors are used to check noise levels remain within predicted modelled levels. The project's environmental specialists will also carry out overnight monitoring near properties during construction. If the monitoring shows noise levels above the predicted levels, we will make adjustments on site to address this.

We are also installing 11km of new and upgraded noise walls on the Eastern Freeway as part of the project, with 63dba protection during the day and 58dba protection at night. This means that noise will not exceed these limits in local streets around the North East Link project when it is completed.

Understanding decibel readings

Decibel_Noise_graphic

Noise FAQ's

Noise is created by a variety of construction activities, including:

piling
jack hammering
rock breaking
moving heavy machinery.

We offer temporary relocation if there are nightworks planned that will impact your ability to sleep. We will be in touch with you ahead of time if you’re going to be affected, so that you’re able to consider the offer of temporary relocation and plan accordingly.

Please call 1800 105 105 or email contact@bigbuild.vic.gov.au if you feel you might be eligible for relocation or respite options.

Works are completed at night, where certain activities aren’t feasible during day times hours. This might be due to a variety of reasons, including:

heavily disruptive works, including closures of the freeway
critical works that require 24/7 operation.

We do this to minimise impact on commuters and keep the project on schedule. Nightworks allow us to close lanes, and sometimes the entire freeway, without heavily impacting traffic.

We aim to complete works during the day where possible, but some major works need to be at night, to avoid significant disruptions.

We understand that noise created from nightworks can be disruptive and impactful, so we try to do as much during the day as we can and will avoid working at night where feasible.

More information

Independent Auditor Reports

NEL Freeways IEA summary report November 2024 – April 2025 (PDF, 7.8MB)

North East-Link-IEA Six-Monthly Summary Environmental Compliance Report – November 2024 to April 2025 (PDF, 1.5MB)

Environmental Management Framework

EMF/EPRs: Chapter 27 - Environmental management framework (DOCX, 8.3 MB)
Full EES: Environment Effects Statement main report chapters

Fact Sheets

Project Information Centres

Eastern Freeway Upgrades - Burke to Tram roads
284 Doncaster Road, Balwyn North. Open Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm.

Eastern Freeway Upgrades - Tram to Springvale roads
31–47 Joseph Street, Blackburn North. Open Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 3pm.

Eastern Freeway Upgrades - Hoddle Street to Burke Road
EHBA Chandler Compound, Wiltshire Drive, Kew. Open Tuesday to Thursday between 9am to 3pm.

Two people are standing in front of a large display featuring detailed maps, diagrams, and renderings of an infrastructure project.

You can also contact us by:

If you require a translator or interpreter, you can call us on 9209 0147.

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