North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:54): (1696) My constituency matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. Recently, while doorknocking across Box Hill North and Blackburn North, I was alerted to the fact that state government surveyors have been caught trespassing in people’s backyards which back onto the Koonung Creek Trail. There is no doubt these surveyors are connected with the widening of the Eastern Freeway, and naturally this has raised concerns as to whether people’s backyards are now in scope of that widening. The government’s stated goal was to have the Eastern Freeway widening between Tram Road and Springvale Road commence in July 2025, and residents do not know now whether their homes are going to be compulsorily acquired or if their backyards are in scope. Could you please, Minister, provide clarity to my constituents on the scope of development in this area and what the purpose of these survey works is.
Sitting suspended 12:55 pm until 2:01 pm.