[Greens-Media] Westlink announcement smacks of desperation - Hartland

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Todays announcement of the preferred option for the Westlink tunnel and 
freeway smacks of desperation by a government frantic to neutralise 
community opposition ahead of the November polls, said Greens MLC Colleen 
Hartland.

"The government has simply shifted the impact of the new trucks and cars 
onto communities like Avondale Heights, Keilor East and Braybrook that 
have not yet become active against Westlink, and weren't part of the 
public consultation.  And they haven't released any traffic impact 
figures, because they will show what a lemon the whole project is," said 
Greens MLC Colleen Hartland

"Community groups like No Freeway 4 West Footscray, Maribyrnong Truck 
Action Group, Less Trucks for Moore and the Brimbank Transport Action 
Group are running very effective community campaigns.  The tunnel route 
looks like it is designed to shut them up.  It certainly isn't designed to 
improve traffic congestion."

"Linking Melbourne Authority has made it look like the community is 
calling for the longer tunnel.  But they have been asking the wrong 
question.  They've been asking West Footscray and West Sunshine residents: 
'do you want a freeway through your house, or one that avoids your 
house?'.  If they asked the community whether they'd rather spend the $5 
billion cost of Westlink on a train and bus every five minutes, you'd get 
a different answer."

"I have held eleven community meetings this year to ask about transport, 
and I've had the same answer everywhere.  The community wants the Westlink 
billions spent on urgently needed services such as hospitals, schools and 
public transport infrastructure," said Ms Hartland

For comment: Colleen Hartland - 9689 6373

********************

Liz Ingham
Office of Colleen Hartland MLC
Western Metropolitan Region

A: 75 Victoria Street, Seddon 3011
P: 9689 6373
M: 0409 333 595
F: 9689 6227
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au

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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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