Tuesday, 15 October 2024

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:25): (1167) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop. Recently the Suburban Rail Loop Authority occupied a good section of Box Hill Gardens in preparation for tunnelling work. A significant proportion of the gardens was portioned off, barricades were put up, tarmac was laid down, some trees were removed and the community was moved out of that section. It was the understanding that this was the extent of it; however, it has come to light today that this is not the full occupation intended for Box Hill Gardens, though no-one in the community knows this. It is quite deeply surprising that there is to be a further occupation of Box Hill Gardens yet, though the community has not been told when, the extent to which this will occur or whether it will impact the community groups that are using this space and the tai chi, tennis, basketball, barbecue and toilet areas and the walkers, runners and people who practise music. All the amenity of this garden is now going to be further compromised, but there is no communication as to the extent to which this will occur.

It does raise some very pertinent questions, and if we take the analogue of the North East Link tunnelling program, to accommodate the tunnelling machines at the North East Link site in Watsonia tunnels and trenches 100 metres long were required to assemble the diggers. The question I have for the minister is: how will those diggers be accommodated within Box Hill Gardens, because if they are anywhere near the same proportion, it will require the occupation of the entire gardens? I would like to know how they will accommodate the diggers. How will they provide the power to those diggers – because again, in Watsonia they needed to install an entire substation to do so? Have the local community been advised? Where was this advertised or communicated that there would be further occupation of Box Hill Gardens? Will community activities be disrupted, and as per the terms of the occupation, will additional open space be provided to the community in compensation for this further occupation?