VicRoads has started fencing works as part of pre-construction for the next stage of the Western Highway duplication project.
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Western Highway project director Mick McCarthy said VicRoads had taken possession of the land required to build the highway, with contractors undertaking fencing of land prior to the early 2017 construction start date. The project will take two years to complete.
BMD Constructions, Lendlease Engineering and a joint-venture between CPB Contractors and Seymour Whyte Construction are shortlisted to design and construct the 12.5-kilometre section, with the successful body to be selected by the end of the year.
Contractors will begin trimming trees and removing vegetation for fences and powerline relocation next week.
“We will be removing up to 220 trees of varying sizes; about 110 of these are for fencing of which 80 are blue gum plantation trees, and about 110 are for powerline works. Where possible we will be moving the fenceline to avoid large trees, but unfortunately any tree within the powerline clearance zone cannot be retained,” ”Mr McCarthy said.
Meanwhile, a concerned local’s push to have federal financing of the project suspended has been rejected.
Buangor resident MairiAnne Mackenzie is seeking a halt to works on a 5.5-kilometre part of the section that will run through her land under the belief that the route will cause significant environmental damage that has not been identified in VicRoads’ Environmental Effects Statement.
Ms Mackenzie is seeking an outcome that would see the section run along a northern stretch along part of the existing highway.
Her legal counsel Michael Kennedy contacted the Department of Environment and then-federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt in March, citing “flaws in the EES” and potential impacts to Matters of National Environmental Significance as reasons to suspend the finance.
Mr Kennedy confirmed on Friday that the request had been rejected, while a spokesperson for Josh Frydenberg said there were “insufficient grounds to support the request.
“The department received and considered a request to suspend the approval for the project,” the spokesperson said.
“The project has not been suspended because there were insufficient grounds to support the request.”
Ms Mackenzie blasted the decision.
“We see this looseness as weakening authority,” she said.
“We want a good product not just box ticking. We are responding to the department's letter."
VicRoads remains confident in its environmental analysis of the chosen route.
“We are also continuing to work with the environmental groups, who do not support the duplication, but are helping us mitigate impacts on the environment,” Mr McCarthy said.
“We have employed a specialist, as recommended by environmental groups, to count the number of trees to be removed for the duplication of the highway, and we will be providing that figure to the community.”