AU2019100921A4 - Improved North East Link - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A roadway from the Ring Road near Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway is proposed. From the Ring Road to Grimshaw Street it will have three lanes in each direction and four lanes each way from Grimshaw Street to the Eastern Freeway. From the Ring Road to Lower Plenty Road the roadway will be predominantly in the existing road reserve. However from Lower Plenty Road it will utilize a north south reserve then over the Yarra River flood plains to Bulleen Road where it will merge with the Bulleen Road traffic leading to new connections to the Eastern Freeway ¾Il )) Incoming lanes The reserve is the grey Roadwayjarea House to be Villa unit to \ acquired & be acquired demolished & demolished SBike path 'A.A Exit lanes Map data02018 Google 20 mi Roadway through the disjointed section of Banyule Creek Reserve Drawing 1/8

Description

Description of patent application

Clarification [0001] This application is an alternative to the Government’s North East Link. In the description of the patent this proposed alternative is referred to as the ‘Link’ but the ‘roadway’ in the claims.

Ring Rd, Greensborough Hwy & Bypass Interchange [0002] This interchange needs to be substantially rebuilt to remove the various lights and provide constantly moving traffic in all directions.

[0003] The layout proposed by the government provides a suitable realignment. However it is unnecessarily complicated by having a duplicated road system, a tolled road a toll free road system that continues along Greensborough Rd.

[0004] A toll free north east link could eliminate these unnecessary connections.

[0005] If it is not proposed in the above layout, the road from the Ring Rd to the Link should have three lanes the others two lanes to cater for the expected increase in traffic in coming years and the variation in demand during a day.

[0006] All bridges along the route will have 5.3 metre clearance.

Link - Ring Rd Interchange to Grimshaw St

0007] This section will be constructed to VicRoads standard profile for a six lane freeway.

[0008] The overall width of this profile is 36.7 metres.

[0009] The existing bypass requires an extra two lanes of pavement in each direction to provide three lanes of 3.5 metres width, two shoulder lanes 3.0 metres wide, a central median and verges on either side of the freeway plus crash barriers, improved lighting and sound barriers to raise it to freeway standard. An extra lane and a half on the Kempton St overpass is also required.

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 [0010] From the Kempton St overpass, 200m north of Grimshaw St. the road way will have to be totally rebuilt so that it passes under Grimshaw St. Grimshaw St at this point has been substantially elevated from the natural surface and appears to be about the right height for the Link to pass under Grimshaw St and then climb at about a 3% grade to pass over the existing rail over pass further south.

Grimshaw St Interchange [0011] The interchange would be that proposed by the government’s North East Link.

[0012] In order to meet the peak hour demand an extra lane in both directions should be added to Grimshaw St in the vicinity of the intersection. Then there should be three right hand turn lanes out of the Link into Grimshaw St going east. All other turns should have two lanes each.

Link - Grimshaw St to Lower Plenty Rd. - Constraints [0013] There are four constraints along this section.

[0014] Firstly the high voltage power line towers that abut the Bypass must be set back 10 metres from the seven metre deep cutting and the footings of the tower may need to be strengthened with bored piles for extra support. This will require realigning about 600 metres of the eastern boundary of the freeway easement on a 900 metre curve and reverse curve of the same radius. This is set out in drawing 3. It requires acquiring 11 houses and six villa units. Small sections will also need to be acquired mainly from the frontage of a few other properties will also be necessary. An advantage of this realignment is that Greensborough Rd on the eastern side of the bypass will be straightened and made continuous up to the bridge over of the Link at Watsonia Rd.

[0015] Secondly a 10 metre deep cutting at the Yallambie Rd Bridge will be needed. If the property acquisitions between Lenola St and Yalambie Rd were to be confined to one row of properties there would be insufficient width for the wider batters and wider set back strip required for this deeper cutting. This can be overcome by putting in bored piles every 7-10 metres with a concrete beam between them to support concrete slabs over the set back strip and the batter in order to take a lane of Greensborough Rd and the bike path thus providing the extra width. This construction would be done before the cutting was put in. When the cutting was excavated this construction would be left standing. This arrangement albeit with

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 varying widths of the slabs would be needed for about 450 metres in the Yallambie Rd precinct.

[0016] Thirdly a 70 metre by 10 metre single storey industrial building possibly a warehouse in the Simpson Barracks is right on the path of the Link. Preferably this should be demolished and a duplicate erected else where in the Barrack’s grounds. If this is unacceptable then an 11-12 metre deep vertical wall can be constructed besides the building in place of the batters and set back strip on the eastern side. To provide the necessary width the overhang of Greensborough Rd will need to be taken out to near the line of the edge of the verge of the Link. In this case the support columns would protrude out part way up the batter.

[0017] If the entrance to the Barracks was moved from Blarney Rd to Yallambie Rd the cutting beside this building could be reduced to about six metres.

[0018] Fourthly from Blarney Rd to Lower Plenty Rd residential properties on one or both sides of the Link are on hills sloping down to the Link. Such topography will lessen the value of the sound barriers. Thus it may be advantageous to continue the Link in a cutting of four to nine metres deep on the Greensborough Rd side along with five metre high sound barriers erected on the natural surface. On the eastern side the cut will be a few metres less than the Greensborough Rd side. Where there is a cutting of four metres or more, five metre high sound barriers will be erected. In shallower cuts seven metre high barriers and for zero cut 10 metre high barriers. In this later location the barriers will act both as sound barriers and retaining walls allowing the open space on the other side to be leveled for active recreation. These combinations should substantially aid the noise reduction. As well as these measures the others outlined in the section entitled ‘Noise abatement along the reserve’ should also be considered.

[0019] An alternative is for the Link to pass over Blarney Rd resulting in only a five metre cut besides the industrial building. However after passing over Blarney Rd it would be six metres above the natural surface and even with a 5% decline it would remain above the natural surface for a further 500 metres due to down hill slope of the natural terrain. With sound barriers three to seven metres above these levels it will be an obtrusive structure. More significant, because of the 5% decline, trucks will use their engine brakes with the characteristic loud pop, pop, pop noise substantially increasing the noise from the Link. Then

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 there will be the growl of the truck engines as they make their way up the incline. On this basis this is not a satisfactory alternative.

[0020] Needless to say there would be a substantial reduction in cost if the industrial building in the Barracks was relocated.

Link - Grimshaw St to Lower Plenty Rd. - Details [0021] This section of the route will have eight lanes but the same profile as for the previous section but with two extra lanes. The overall width will be 43.7 metres.

[0022] The need for these extra lanes should be confirmed with traffic forecasts that take into consideration our East West Link alternative that disperse all the traffic at the end of the Eastern Freeway at Hoddle St and whether this will cause Plenty Rd north of the Ring Rd traffic to us the Link as this could materially increase the traffic on the Link.

[0023] From our observation there is currently one continuous freeway lane of traffic traveling the proposed Ring Road, which is to the east and south east of Melbourne. No doubt this will rise due to the reduced travel time. However we expect a big increase in other uses again due to the reduced travel time and demand will reach capacity in the medium term.

[0024] The Link will initially follow the line of the existing bypass but will have to be totally rebuilt as the levels will be different and it is not up to freeway standard.

[0025] The bridge over the rail line will need to be extended to accommodate an eight lane freeway plus the bike trail.

[0026] There will be two basic profiles along this section. Firstly the above freeway profile along with the local Greensborough Rd profile, secondly this profile in a cutting seven metres deep.

Positioning of the Link along this length of Greensborough Rd [0027] The positioning of the Link along this section displaying the boundaries of the profiles is superimposed on Google Maps.

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 [0028] After passing over the rail line the road will descend at a grade of up to 3% so that the road is seven metres below ground level at Elder St where a bridge over the Link will be built to provide access to the Watsonia station car park, plus access for the Elder St or any other buses plus a foot/ bike path to the station.

[0029] The set back from the top of the batter will have to be increased from five metres to 10 metres as it passes the high voltage power line towers. This will result in the whole road system in this area having to be moved five metres east. If this is deemed insufficient, piles can be bored adjacent to the footings of the tower to provide extra support.

[0030] Another bridge over the Link will be built to allow Watsonia Rd traffic to cross the Link and for Greensborough Rd to cross over the Link and continue along on the other side. The bridge will need to be at an oblique angle so the curved ramp will finish up adjacent to the service road, see drawing 6. The ramp off the bridge and Greensborough Rd going north will add eight metres to the width of the overall profile at this point.

[0031] Residents living in 16 properties south of this point will be able to do a U turn at the bottom of the ramp aided by a widening out of the road surface at the corner of Todman St and the Service Rd. The few larger vehicle that may wish to do this turn will have to do a loop via Todman St, Frensham Rd, and Rasheida St to get to the service road to the south. Vehicles going north on this service road will not be able to connect directly to Greensborough Rd for safety reasons. They will have to do a loop and come in at Todman St or Elder St.

[0032] Another hill top exists at Lenola St. The cutting at this location will be about five to six metres deep so as to fit into the reserve at this point.

[0033] As noted above there will be two other bridges at Yallambie Rd and Blarney Rd.

[0034] South of Blarney Rd to Lower Plenty Rd there is ample width of land to position the Link.

[0035] Notwithstanding the variable depths of the cuttings it should be possible to maintain the Link in roughly a straight line with acceptable sweeping bends.

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 [0036] The Link will be in a cutting of varying depths between Temby St to Lower Plenty Rd. The Link after passing under Blarney Rd will be at a decline of 4% or less until it passes under Lower Plenty Rd.

Parking at Watsonia station [0037] The area for parking at Watsonia station will be greater than the current area and with properly set out positioning of the parking bays compared to the current haphazard positioning about 860 spaces can be provided compared to about 600 currently.

[0038] There is also a large strip of vacant land providing an easement for a high voltage power line opposite the station car park. The controller of this land, probably a power transmission company, should be approached to allow extra parking for train travelers on this land. The section from Greensborough Rd to Frensham Rd could provide parking for about 500 cars.

[0039] Furthermore with the reconfiguration of the Watsonia Rd-Greensborough Bypass intersection there will be a large portion of open space immediately to the south of this intersection that could provide parking for an additional 250 cars.

Link - Blarney Rd to Lower Plenty Rd [0040] For another 300 metres south of Blarney Rd the decline will continue at a 4% grade rising up to the natural surface level near Strathallan Rd. The decline will then flatten out to 3% with the roadway ending in a sweeping bend and passing under Lower Plenty Rd. There are no constraints on this section other than the crossing of a sewer line near Lower Plenty Rd of unknown depth.

Allowable speeds [0041] From the Ring Road interchange to Lower Plenty Rd the Link will be of freeway standard and a speed limit of 100 km/hour will apply. From Lower Plenty Rd to the Eastern Freeway, due to the various constraints, speed will be limited to 80 km/hour and the Link will be built to an arterial road standard.

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Realigned Greensborough Rd [0042] The local Greensborough Rd from Grimshaw St on the east side of the proposed Link up to Temby St will be retained. As noted before the eastern boundary of the Link to fit in the required profile will provide a near straight continuation of Greensborough Rd to the bridge over the Link. Greensborough Rd will then continue on the west side of the Link to Lower Plenty Rd.

[0043] The four lanes of the existing Greensborough Rd at the southern end will be retained from Lower Plenty Rd to about 50 metres north of Erskine Rd as considerable traffic enters and leaves Greensborough Rd from this road that leads to Latrobe University. North of that point Greensborough Rd will be reduced to two lanes and a central right hand turn lane and a 2.7 metre parking lane.

[0044] The existing 2.5 metre bike path on the east side of Greensborough Rd from Lower Plenty Rd would be extended to Watsonia Rd.

Acquisition of properties along Greensborough Rd [0045] The properties that must be acquired fall into two groups. Firstly those that are needed to provide a route around the high voltage power line towers being 12 houses and six villa units. It is assumed it would be prohibitively expensive to relocate the towers. Secondly the 14 properties in the narrow section of the road reserve between Lenola St and Yallambie Rd. On top of this, small acquisitions mainly from the frontage of about eight properties will be needed.

[0046] As well there is the Coles Express service station/convenience store on the comer of Yallambie Rd and a single story industrial building about 62 long by 10 metres wide possibly a warehouse in the Simpson Barrack. If the Defence Department is adamant this cannot be demolished, it will be necessary to build a vertical wall for the side of the cutting thus avoiding this demolition.

Acquisition of vacant land next to proposed freeway [0047] There is a large area of vacant land, around 10 hectares, on the east side of the proposed Link and north of Lower Plenty Rd. A copy the aerial view and Lands Department contour map of this area is attached. This may be Crown land controlled by the Department

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 of Defence. Attempts should be made to purchase this land to provide open space for the dearth of such space in the immediate surrounds and provide a replacement for utilizing the Banyule Creek Reserve. If acquired, a pedestrian underpass across the Link would need to be constructed for residents on the west side of the Link to access this space.

Lower Plenty Rd interchange [0048] The Link will pass under Lower Plenty Rd. This is a complex intersection due to the adjacent Greensborough Rd, the intersection not being at right angles and the anticipated large amount of traffic entering and leaving the freeway at this point especially in the Eltham direction. The multiple turning lanes can be grouped into two groups minimizing the cycle time.

[0049] With this arrangement there will be a useful amount of unutilized land on the east side of the Link. A plan to provide intensive use of this land for public activities needs to be formulated.

The Link - Banyule Creek Reserve [0050] The Link will utilize the Banyule Creek Reserve and its extension substantially a north south reserve stretching 1.8 Km to the Yarra River flats.

[0051] The roadway will pass under Lower Plenty Rd at substantially the natural surface level as before entering this underpass it has to cross a sewer line, depth unknown. This will probably require raising the height of Lower Plenty Rd at this point.

[0052] The optimum profile of the Link for this section is 38.6m wide.

[0053] On entering the Reserve the Link traverses a disjointed section of the reserve that requires acquisition of one house, one villa unit and portions of the rear of six other properties to accommodate the Link roadway. Refer to drawing 1/8 [0054] Following this section there are two significant changes in direction and another slight deviation in direction. With careful alignment these bends can be accommodated with sweeping bends of around 500 metre radius leading to the straight southern section. To achieve this one villa unit and a disused tennis court will need to be acquired and demolished

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 plus small sections from the rear of 13 other properties will be needed. Refer to drawings 2/8, 3/8 & 4/8.

[0055] This section is relatively flat with cuts being less than two metres and fill up to five metres The cuts could be supported by a conventional crib wall and the fill with a reinforced earth retaining wall. The five to seven metre high sound barriers will probably require drilled piles for support.

[0056] The creek has a limited catchment area so the flows will not be large. There are two pipes about 1.3 metre diameter catering for this flow under Lower Plenty Rd. so a single pipe of about 1.8 metres diameter should be sufficient to pipe this flow.

Southern Section of the Reserve [0057] This section of 1.0 km is particularly hilly and a substantial amount of cutting and filling will be required. This has been optimized by having an ascending grade of 3% up to the highest point then a descending grade of 4% down to the river flood plains. On the western side the Link will be in a cutting of from five to ten metres over most of the length. The cutting on the eastern side will be less the deepest being between four and six metres. As noted above these walls must be vertical because of the width limitation. They could be built by drilling bored piles with shotcrete infill.

[0058] Fill will be of lesser heights. Reinforced earth wall is a conventional way of building vertical retaining walls with fill. However these would not be strong enough to with stand the wind pressure on the noise barrier. This could be over come by having bored piles to support the noise barriers and reinforced earth walls to contain the fill.

[0058] At the top of the hill there is a relatively flat section with depths over seven metres. This could be covered to form a linear park that connects to an access block to Gloucester Drive and the existing adjacent park that in turn has access from Beverley Rd. giving overall access to the complex from various locations. This park has an added benefit in that the connecting slab provides lateral support for the vertical piles allowing for lower cost piles.

[0059] These cuts and fills will effectively increase the height of the sound barriers and in turn appreciably reduce the noise to low levels around adjoining properties.

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 [0060] There will be one over pass at Banyule Rd along this length. One and possibly two electricity supply poles will need to be repositioned.

[0061] This reserve ends at Buckingham St.

[0062] More extensive acquisition and demolition of homes in this southern section is required.

[0063] There is a modern house fronting Austral Court and three modern town house on the other side of Austral Court all built on the original reserve that need to be acquired and demolished. As well a four to five metre strip along the side of a block fronting Banyule Rd on which a double garage exists needs to be purchased. Further purchases include a four metre wide strip along the rear of four properties and a varying portion from four to zero metres from four more properties all on the western side of the Reserve south of Banyule Rd. These purchases are necessary as the width of this section of the reserve even with the above demolitions is too narrow.

[0064] While this section, 1.1 km in length, is straight it is narrower varying slightly in width along its length with the narrowest section being 37.7 metres. A strip ranging in width from

1.9 metres down to zero need to be purchased to provide the minimum requirements. This will affect eight properties. The rear of two houses will be right on the boundary after this acquisition. It may be possible to reduce the width of the break down lane or the bike path at this location so these houses have sufficient clearance with the back fence. Alternatively one will require purchasing the whole property and demolishing the house. A second property may require removing an extension at the rear of the house. The others will only be affected to the extent garages and other back yard features may need to be demolished.

[0065] Also at the end of the reserve at Buckingham St a court containing four modem houses also built on the original reserve need to be acquired and demolished.

Noise abatement along the reserve [0066] With houses abutting both sides of the reserve it is imperative to maximize the noise abatement.

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 [0067] Research shows three metre high noise walls with a flat top i.e. shaped like a capital T are as effective as a seven metre high conventional wall. It is assumed this improvement exists for seven metre high T walls. Also the cutting and filling on the southern section will effectively increase the height of the sound barriers.

[0068] Absorption panels can absorb around 80-90% of the noise hitting them and these may be able to increase the noise attenuation.

[0069] At slower speeds the major source of noise are tyres rolling of the road pavement. The Europeans have been successful in substantially reducing this noise using rubber particles.

[0070] However to date the system has not been durable. The Arizona road authority has developed a rubberized asphalt that is durable but not as quiet. We note the new surface on Dandenong Rd at Chadstone Rd is much quieter than the pavement not resurfaced. It remains to be seen if this noise reduction is lasting. Further enquires will be made in order to locate the quietest formulation.

[0071] A combination of these methods will be used to minimize the road noise.

[0072] As well noise meters will be installed along the route to detect unnecessarily noisy vehicles that will be fined. In the evening from 9 pm to 7 am more stringent noise abatement will be imposed, with the maximum speed being reduced from 80 Km/hour to 60 Km/hour. Noisier vehicles such as large trucks will probably have to travel at 40 Km/ hour over this section to comply with the noise limitation.

[0073] On the descents of the southern section trucks will be banned from using engine breaking with the character loud pop, pop noise and will have to rely on using a low gear and their brakes. The 4% grade going south has a safety margin built in that should the trucks not be able to slow down they can cross onto the level flood plains along a sweeping bend that can handle a truck doing 100 Km/hour.

[0074] Not withstanding these noise abatement measures home owners adjacent to the Link will probably suffer some property value loss which will be compensated for as set out in a following section on property compensation.

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South of Buckingham St [0075] The freeway will pass under Buckingham St that will be raised up by three meters with the freeway 6.5 meters below it. The ramp on the west side will need to be at a 1 in 5 slope to allow access to the garages of the nearest two homes on the west side. On the east side it is not so restrictive and a 1 in 10 grade should be suitable. For safety reasons, traffic calming speed humps will be installed at the start of both ramps so vehicles enter the ramps and cross over the Link at 20km/hour.

[0076] Over a distance of 240 metres the land drops sharply down to the Yarra River flats. Along this section the decline grade will be 4% with the roadway entering the plain 2.5 metres above it and will descend to one metre above the plain a level it will maintain until it reaches the bridge crossing the river. Refer to drawing 5/8 [0077] Directly in the path of the Link is the Banyule Theatre complex and 100 metres further south is an Edwardian styled house entitled the Old Shire Offices’. These building would need to be demolished and alternative premises located.

[0078] Then on the edge of the plains is the club house of a cricket club that will need to be rebuilt as it is on the path of the roadway and is obstructing the reconfiguration of the adjacent oval.

Yarra River flats [0079] Across the flats the Link will be three sweeping bends until it passes over the river heading to Manningham Rd. Refer to drawings 5/8 & 6/8 [0080] These river flats are only suitable for active recreation as snakes abound in the area as witnessed by a sign at the children’s playground next the Heidelberg Oval warning parents of the possibility of snakes in the playground enclosure during the summer six months.

[0081] While the Link runs beside the Yarra River, the river is narrow at this point being only 10-15 metres wide. Coupled with the under growth that obscures its existence it is not a visual attraction.

[0082] The Link in the main passes by three ovals that will need to be slightly repositioned and by passes an attractive setting in the horseshoe section of the river and then crosses the

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 river and passes under Manningham Rd. This route requires the chopping down of a stand of about 60 tall pine trees. If it is deemed necessary to retain this stand the road could be built around it but with tighter curves and a greater reconfiguring of the Heidelberg Oval.

[0083] These river flats could be reconfigure, if the Council approves, to provide some soccer fields especially if the swamp area is built over. This would probably eliminate the snakes that can get into the adjacent children’s play ground during the summer months. The Link would pay for such rebuilding as part compensation for resuming the north south reserve.

[0084] The bridge over the river will have a 3.5 metre clearance over the flats to allow maintenance vehicle, pedestrians and bicyclists to get to all locations. The bridge will also have a bike/pedestrian path on one side. Snake repealing instruments would be placed adjacent to the underpass to keep snakes out of the underpass.

Manningham Rd interchange [0085] Access at Manningham Road will be confined to traffic going to or coming from the north. No access to the south is planned as such traffic can use Bulleen Road leading to Manningham Rd.

Continuation of the Link, Manningham Rd to Bulleen Rd [0086] The road way will run beside the river then swing away from it necessitating the acquisition of the back portion of one house that fronts lima Court or up to three properties fronting lima court and a portion of a fourth one depending on the final alignment and the need to avoid as much as necessary for the Link to pass over the billabong or to totally skirt it. Refer to Drawings 7/8 & 8/8

Sporting complex [0087] A large sporting complex is proposed for the large portion of private land believed to have been the former Bulleen Drive-in theatre and the crown land east of the Link. The layout of this complex is shown in drawing 8/8

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Connection to Bulleen Rd [0088] The two lanes of south bound traffic from Bulleen Rd and the four lanes of the Link will converge in the normal manner into five lanes. The five lanes of north bound traffic will expand into two lanes continuing along Bulleen Rd and four along the Link. The vehicles continuing north along Bulleen Rd will pass under the Link roads and pass to the east of the billabong.

[0089] This arrangement will take up a portion of the Veneto Club’s second soccer pitch. It is proposed that extra ground being Crown Land be made available to the immediate north of the main pitch to compensate this loss and a new pitch built on this site. Alternatively the club could use one of the five soccer pitches proposed for the sporting complex

Continuation of the Link along Bulleen Rd.

[0090] The ovals and other features along Bulleen Road are set back far enough that they wont be impaired if extra land is acquired for a widened roadway.

[0091] Exceptions to this are the pair of multi purpose tennis/netball courts belonging to Carey Grammar. A portion of one court will have to be demolished. However there is room on the other side of the pair of courts to construct a replacement or add a little to the side of the second court and remark them. Secondly the Bulleen Swim Centre across Bulleen Rd from the courts will need to be demolished [0092] The widened roadway will consist of five lanes in each direction, a service road on either side to allow access to the various properties, a foot path/ bike lane on either side with appropriate central and side median strips. This arrangement is set out in the following illustration.

[0093] This profile will require acquiring eight to nine metres strip in from the fence line of the Veneto Club right along the west side of Bulleen Rd and another eight to nine metres strip in from the fence line of the Trinity Grammar and Marcellin College’s fence line. The two critical factors in positioning this boundary are that there is enough room for vehicles to access the undercover drop off/pick up point of the Veneto Club and retaining as many of the mature trees along the Marcellin College boundary.

2019100921 16 Aug 2019 [0094] The service lanes will not run the full length of Bulleen Rd, only enough to provide access to the various entrances. The extent of this service road is shown in drawing 31. The service road will be separated from the Link lanes by a notional quarter metre wide median strip consisting of a ripple strip on one side and a full painted strip on the other edge.

[0095] With this arrangement break down lanes will not be necessary on the Link road as demobilized vehicles can cross the median and park beside the service lane.

[0096] The entrance into the service roads will be roads at the two ends connecting to the Link or Bulleen Rd North. Exit out of these service roads will be more complex.

Exit from the west side service road will be a lane merging with the Link road or onto the Bulleen Rd North flyover. If vehicles want to go south they will swing off the flyover and do a U turn in Bulleen Rd North and return on the Link entry lane and choose any of the alternative exits from the Link to get to their destination.

[0097] At the southern end will be a 2.2 metre high underpass connecting both sides of the service roads. This is the same height as the underground car park at Woolworths Carnegie. This underpass will allow cars, pedestrians and bicyclists to transfer from one service lane to the other. Buses and trucks and those wishing to exit the service lane will continue on the service lane and merge with the Link lanes as they swing off to the east if they want to go to the freeway or they will stay in the merge lane which will continue at ground level as the Link roads rise for the flyover. These motorists can then go left at Thompsons Rd or right which will take them back to Bulleen Rd either north or south.

[0098] The entrance to the tennis club cannot be provided with this arrangement. The existing entrance will only be usable from a south bound direction. North bound traffic can gain access via a service road off Thompsons Rd and running beside the Link lanes.

[0099] Bulleen Road narrows approaching the Eastern Freeway then widens out at the existing interchange. This section has a flat plateau at the intersection then a steep drop down to Koonung Koonung Creek. This section will be remodeled to be a constant 4% decline. This excavation will widen the road by two to four metres on both sides in the upper section. Below this the embankment diminishes and it will be a simple fill and cut to widen the road by the necessary amount on the eastern side to accommodate the proposed layout.

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Power line along Bulleen Rd [0100] This power line running along the west side of Bulleen Rd needs to be repositioned between the foot path/bike lane and the service road.

Noise barriers along Bulleen Rd [0101] It is problematic whether noise barriers are desirable along Bulleen rd as there are no residents along this stretch of road and the parkland setting provides a pleasant vista. One exception is the Veneto Club complex. Noise barriers would ruin the visual appearance of the site so it is proposed that double glazing be fitted to all windows facing Bulleen Rd.

Claims (5)

1. From Lower Plenty Road and south the roadway will have four lanes in each direction and will utilize the Banyule Creek reserve plus acquiring three houses, a tennis court and small sections of the rear of some of the properties backing onto the reserve with the roadway having sweeping bends of around 500 metre radius, where Banyule Creek swings off to the east the road will continue along the north south easement by acquiring the houses that have been built on the original easement believed to be eight plus small segments from the rear or side of some of the houses along this length to Buckingham St where Buckingham Street will be raised up about three metres with the roadway passing under Buckingham Street then descending down to the Yarra River flood plains. Drawing numbers 1/8, 2/8, 3/8 4/8 &5/8 define this arrangement

2. The roadway will follow closely the Yarra River but with sweeping bends of about 500 metre radius, it will then pass over the Yarra River and then under Manningham Road as set out in drawing numbers 5/8 6/8 & 7/8

3. Approaching Bulleen Road the roadway will swing away from the River and pass over the most easterly portion of the billabong or just to the east of the billabong requiring purchasing the rear of one property fronting lima Court or up to three properties and a portion of one other property fronting lima Court to achieve the desired alignment. Drawing number 8/8 illustrates this alignment

4. Bulleen Road will be widened by acquiring about 10 metres from the properties on either side of the roadway the new property line on the western side will be the line 10 metres west of the existing property line of the Veneto Club, there will be five lanes of through traffic each way along Bulleen Road with service roads on either side having one traffic lane a parking/break down lane and a footpath/ cycle lane, traffic traveling north up Bulleen Road will pass under the roadway that will be sufficiently elevated to allow vehicles to pass under it and aligned so this road passes to the east of the billabong, at the southern end there will be an underpass for cars but not larger vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians, at the northern end vehicles, bicyclist and pedestrians can pass under the roadway to exit the service road and pass to the other side of Bulleen Road

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5. The approximate 6.5 hectare of private land believed to be the old Bulleen Drive-in theatre will be purchased and the surround Crown land south east of the roadway will be used to build a sporting complex and the 18 hectare of Crown land encompassing the billabong and stretching down to the river will be fenced off to keep out preditors such as stray cats and foxes and will be turned into a sanctuary for native animals especially small one that have been eliminated by preditors. Drawing number 8/8 shows the layout of the sporting complex and the location of the billabong.