Sarah Oliver
The Victorian government has today announced that the North East Link project will go ahead.
The project will benefit motorists travelling to and from the north and include “more than 50 MCGs of new, revived and reconnected parklands”.
“A project the size of North East Link doesn’t come around very often,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“It’s been long talked about – and is the largest ever investment into Melbourne’s north-east – supporting 10,000 jobs and we’re getting on with it.”
A North East Trail consisting of walking and cycling paths will be built and will go for 34 kilometres – the original plan had the trail running for 24 kilometres, nine less than the current plan.
The Spark consortium has signed a $11.1 billion public private partnership contract which locks in a 25-year deal to build, operate and maintain the tunnels. Tolls for the tunnels will go back to the state.
Thousands of jobs will be generated through the project, with 8000 jobs expected for the tunnelling package alone.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said: “Half a million Victorians live within two kilometres of a North East Link interchange. The tunnels are just one part of a massive investment in the north east”.
A voluntary purchase scheme will be offered to homes most impacted by construction and design, with more details to come as the project progresses.
“This design released today is the result of extensive community consultation and delivers the project people have asked for,” Ms Allan said.
Early construction is already under way and the project is set to be completed in 2028.
