Tara Murray
The old Doreen Post Office building and two River Red Gum trees will survive the upgrades to the Bridge Inn Road intersection.
There were concerns about the future of the building and the two trees which are 500 and 400 years old respectively, with the intersection to be upgraded as part of the Yan Yean Road upgrades.
Details released in the Environment Effects Statement for stage two of the road upgrades included a design for the proposed intersection at Bridge Inn Road.
The proposed intersection will be built to the northeast of its current position in order to retain the two trees in line with community wishes.
The design will also retain the old Doreen Post Office building and avoid impacting the two businesses on the southeast corner of the Bridge Inn, Yan Yean and Doctors Gully roads intersection.
A new service lane for local businesses will be built as part of the works.
The design follows community consultation dating back to 2018, with the most recent consultation taking place in May this year.
A Facebook group called Save the Doreen Red Gums, with nearly 1500 followers, celebrated the decision to save the two trees.
The EES document, which is overseen by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), is currently on display for public comment until October 9.
The statement examines the potential environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of the project and identifies how they will be avoided, mitigated or managed.
Yan Yean MP Danielle Green said this was a further opportunity for the community to have input into design for the project and encouraged submissions to Planning Panels Victoria (PPV) on the important road upgrade.
Stage two of the Yan Yean Road upgrade will add an additional lane in each direction between Kurrak, Yarrambat and Bridge Inn roads, Doreen to improve traffic flow.
The project will provide safer conditions for road users.
Authorities will need to acquire 21 parcels of land and 75 partial parcels of land to complete the upgrade.
Webinars will be held to answer questions about the EES, with residents able to request to have a document sent to them.
For more information on how to make a submission or to view the EES, visit: roadprojects.vic.gov.au/yyr-ees.
