Protectors of Public Lands – Say NO to the tunnel. May 25, 1pm

Dear Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. members and friends

Here is an important notice concerning numbers of pivotal issues which affect the whole of Melbourne. PPL VIC is formally supporting the Royal Park Protection Group Inc. and the Mt Alexander Road Campaign Group:

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY PROTEST TO SAY “NO” TO THE TUNNEL & TRAVANCORE DEVELOPMENT AT 1 PM ON SUNDAY 25 MAY 2008 DEBNEY’S PARK FLEMINGTON

Reason to Protest: The proposed developments will clog the roads around Flemington, West Parkville, North Melbourne, Ascot Vale and Kensington and destroy public parkland notably Royal Park. Specifically: (1) The Tunnel (proposed by the Eddington report on the “East West Link Needs Assessment”) will have a major interchange undoubtedly in the form of a spaghetti junction at Flemington Rd, Racecourse Rd and CityLink; a flyover across West Parkville residential area plus Royal Park and possibly across Travancore Park; and consume parts of Royal Park West and Holland Park in Kensington as staging points for tunnel construction. Vent stacks will be situated along the route of the tunnel. (2) The Travancore 22 story Office/Apartment Development and 1,000 vehicle carpark will cause even greater traffic congestion in and around the southern part of Mt. Alexander Rd and will also consume 2,000 sq meters of Debney’s Park.

Taken together with the failure to make major improvements in public transport they will lead to an urban nightmare for the residents of five Melbourne suburbs and loss of significant parkland.

Time and Date: 1 pm Sunday May 25 2008 Location: Debney’s Park, Mt Alexander Rd next to the Flemington Community Centre. Key Speaker: Dr Paul Mees – our public transport guru MC: Rod Quantock.

Themes: Say “no” to John Brumby and the Big End of Town’s urban nightmare; oppose more loss of public parkland; demand real solutions to our traffic and public transport problems and real action on Global Warming.

Transport: Train – Flemington Bridge Station Upfield Line. Tram – No 59 up Mt Alexander Road from Elizabeth Street that drops you off at Tram stop 23 next to the Flemington Community Centre or No 57 up Racecourse Road and walk north through “Housing Commission” grounds. Bike: Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. Parking: Outside Flemington Community Centre (limited); Victoria Street – first left after Debney’s Park and walk back across sports fields; parking areas of “Housing Commission” flats on Racecourse Road entrance and walk across. Melways Map Reference: 43B1.

Principal organizing groups: Mt Alexander Rd Campaign Group (MARCG) and Royal Park Protection Group Inc. (RPPG) with the support of Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. (a coalition of over 80 environment, heritage and community groups.) Contacts: Julianne Bell RPPG 9818 4114 or 0408022408 jbell5@bigpond.com or Gab Pretto MARCG on 0411060059 stoptrafficdisaster@live.com.au.

Julianne Bell
Secretary Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc.