We both received individual copies of this in the mail today. 

Monday 12 May 2008

Dear friends,

You may have heard about the proposal for a giant road tunnel from Footscray to Collingwood, going through Kensington.

You may not have heard their plan is to dig up JJ Holland Park during the construction stage or that the tunnel will actually be an open 'canyon' just sound of there.  We don't yet know where the on and off ramps will be located or whether ventilation stacks will be needed to let pollution escape.

If you are concerned about this proposal, if you feel you need to know more and if you want a chance to meet up with some of your neighbours who are feeling the same way, please come to our meeting:

PUBLIC MEETING - NO ROAD TUNNEL
2:00-3:00PM SATURDAY 24 MAY 2008
COMMUNITY HALL
KENSINGTON COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTRE
CORNER KENSINGTON ROAD & ALTONA STREET
KENSINGTON

At the meeting we propose to talk about :

1. What the tunnel idea involves and the likely impact on this area
2. What the alternatives are to cut congestion and make this a greener city
3. What we can do about it

The tunnel proposal has been floated in a state government study.  You can read more about it at http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/ "East-west transport options".

To understand how this tunnel will affect your area here's a map of the currently planned route, taken from the report.

We think this $10 billion tunnel is unneccessary because we know that most traffic doesn't go across the city, it goes into the city.  For that sort of money, there are many better ways to cut traffic congestion across the inner north.

Even in an area like Kensington, public transport still fails to meet the needs of the community.  At South Kensington, the trains run every twenty minutes.  By the time the train arrives at Kensington Station you often can't get on.

Please come to our meeting as we need to work together to fight against this tunnel ad for better public transport.  If you can't make it to the meeting and you want to find out more, please send me an email at greg.barber@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Cheers,

Greg Barber MLC
State Member of Parliament for Northern Metropolitan
Greens Transport Spokesperson