Submission Cover Sheet Mordialloc Bypass Project EES IAC 61 Request to be heard?: yes Full Name: Organisation: Affected property: Attachment 1: Attachment 2: Attachment 3: Comments: Lucinda Bertram Aspendale Gardens Residents Association AGRA_Mordialloc I have uploaded a word document file
Mordialloc Freeway Submission to Mordialloc Bypass Project Environment Effects Statement (EES) Inquiry and Advisory Committee. Overview Aspendale Gardens Residents Association are strong supporters and advocates for the Mordialloc Freeway and have been campaigning for the freeway for over two decades. A 2018 residents survey showing almost 80% were in strong favour with just 9% of residents surveyed not wanting the project to go ahead. The main reasons we are in favour. According to the EES reduction in traffic along Wells Road will be improved by 75% in comparison to if the project does not go ahead. Wells Road currently divides our suburb. The heavy through traffic causes stress and significant risk for residents trying to enter, exit and cross the road. It adds unreasonable amounts of time to short journeys, some times trapping residents within their estate. The predicted return of investment makes this one of the most cost effective projects in the state. With the appropriate visual and sound attenuation devices and bike paths and meeting environmental protection as per the EES, the Mordialloc Freeway will be a great asset to the suburb and all neighbouring areas. Requested Improvements & Considerations In the current design there are no on/off ramps on the northern part of Mordialloc Freeway junction with Centre Dandenong Road. The missing northern ramps at this
junction need to be included in the final design because heavy vehicles commencing the journey from Moorabbin will be blocked from benefitting from the Freeway link to the Dingley Arterial. The need for planning to include measures that will assist to prevent bottlenecks on the Dingley Arterial By Pass in particular at the T junction where the Mordialloc Freeway joins the Dingley By Pass. At the least, this T junction should be constructed so that from day one this will be a flyover without traffic signals. Dingley By Pass needs to be changed to a freeway design so that all traffic using the Mordialloc Freeway and the Dingley By Pass has the benefit of 100k non stop travel to their freeway end destination point. Exit to Warragul Road and South Road will need special attention and more importantly the need for the future Freeway link to the Monash Freeway will be required if we are to get the full benefits of this remarkable Major Roads Projects and Government project. Aspendale Gardens residents should have at the least the same noise protection that the residents of Waterways have been given through their agreement with City of Kingston and that Major Roads Projects and government adopt the concept that you cannot overdo sound reduction. The complete freeway through Aspendale Gardens be shielded so that the outline of the total construction becomes diffused or hidden by various types of flora thereby creating a home for native fauna and breaking up the view of the freeway from any position on its entire length. Once the Mordialloc Freeway has been constructed that Wells Road be resurfaced and the speed limit be reduced to 70kph in line with the southern part of Wells Road. The plan should incorporate intent to increase car parking at or close to the public transport hubs. Further Discussion and Explanation of our main points Vic Roads Assessments. Vic Roads Assessment includes, forecasts out to 2031 that include business growth, population growth and associated traffic patterns, and includes extra needs for future industrial (heavy vehicles) and commuter traffic. Studies include forecasts of public and private transport counts for the region including at major traffic junctions. We understand that this project has a 4x return on investment which must make it one of the most justified and needed road projects of all time.
We are pleased with the case for construction of the Mordialloc Freeway. We are pleased that the plan reflects features and benefits in line with the case for the freeway system sought over many years by our residents through their resident organisation, AGRA. Suggestions that add to the performance and value of the project. The 2031 forecast includes additional development at Moorabbin Airport which will generate an extra 9,600 jobs. In addition, an extra 75,000 jobs will be created by the new Monash Innovation Cluster. When combined these developments will increase the number of heavy vehicles, private cars, public transport buses and heavy vehicles to service the area and will require adequate access to and from the new Mordialloc Freeway particularly at Centre Dandenong Road. AGRA discussed these factors with Major Roads Projects representatives at our November 2018 community meeting. Some of the points raised included: The current design allows for on/off ramps at the southern side of the Mordialloc Freeway junction with Centre Dandenong Road. There are no on/off ramps on the northern part of Mordialloc Freeway junction with Centre Dandenong Road. It was generally accepted that the missing northern ramps at this junction need to be included in the final design because heavy vehicles commencing the journey from Moorabbin will be blocked from benefitting from the Freeway link to the Dingley Arterial. In addition, we also discussed the need for planning to include measures that will assist to prevent bottlenecks on the Dingley Arterial By Pass in particular at the T junction where the Mordialloc Freeway joins the Dingley By Pass. At the least, this T junction should be constructed so that from day one this will be a flyover without traffic signals. This change will support a future freeway upgrade to the Dingley Arterial Road without future major works at this junction. Vehicles reaching the Dingley Arterial should not be delayed by traffic lights. This is the time to complete the Mordialloc Freeway and not delay sections into the future. This was noted as an important suggestion during the AGRA/ Major Roads Projects meeting. Also discussed was the suggestion that the Dingley By Pass needs to be changed to a freeway design so that all traffic using the Mordialloc Freeway and the Dingley By Pass has the benefit of 100k non stop travel to their freeway end destination point. This discussion centred on the need for all vehicles to have minimal requirement to brake and stop frequently when using the regional Freeway system. This therefore also requires efficient exit methods at the end of the freeway or at where freeway/arterial systems meet.
Exit to Warragul Road and South Road will need special attention and more importantly the need for the future Freeway link to the Monash Freeway will be required if we are to get the full benefits of this remarkable Vic Roads and Government project. We strongly request that these requirements be included in the final Mordialloc Freeway project perhaps as a soon to be completed stage two. Environment: The report promises appropriate visual and sound attenuation devices and bike paths etc. and meeting environmental protection as per the EES so that our local and regional communities and business and public transport users will benefit from its early completion. As discussed at our meeting with Major Roads Projects staff we seek high levels of screening of the freeway system at all points. Not just where a residential interface exists. We ask that the complete freeway be shielded so that the outline of the total construction becomes diffused or hidden by various types of flora thereby creating a three dimensional home for native fauna and breaking up the view of the freeway from any position on its entire length. This could include hill structure and banks to give height to trees and this should also include lower canopy plants to ensure that the whole view is screened. This will help soften the visual effect of the freeway while generating pathways and feeding areas for our native flora and fauna with the bonus that it will become attractive for walkers, cyclists and environmentalists to use those areas. Noise: We note that in figure 12.6 that noise levels close to the freeway are in the region of 68 decibels without mitigation and about 56 59 with mitigation. We note that the higher the barrier the lower the noise. At the AGRA / Major Roads Projects meeting we were told that most vehicle noise is generated by tyre contact with the road surface. Clearly this will be even more relevant in the future when most vehicles are using electricity to power their vehicles. Tyre noise will then be a world wide problem with governments setting objectives to reduce tyre noise and perhaps Australia can lead on how this could be achieved. This is particularly likely as we increase housing density including building properties closer to the road or high up alongside roads.
We note that noise attenuation is a major feature of the plan. We point out that the Freeway is raised off the ground in many areas for good environmental reasons including in the wetlands close to Aspendale Gardens and Waterways. It is recognised that noise is a major pollutant and that the plan incorporates requirements for good sound mitigation. We note that Waterways have an agreement with City of Kingston protecting their resident s needs in this respect. We respectfully ask for three things. That our residents have at the least the same noise protection that the residents of Waterways have been given through their agreement and As discussed at our meeting, Major Roads Projects to include provision for retrofitting of advanced sound barriers should the noise levels in Aspendale Gardens and Waterways exceed the 63db. We note that open grade asphalt will be used for the freeway surface which will help reduce tyre noise. Taking into account the road structure is raised for most of its distance that wherever it is raised appropriate sound barriers be included. Therefore sound barriers to be constructed at all these points to minimise background noise that may travel great distances and impact on the community, parklands and fauna. We strongly recommend that Major Roads Projects and government adopt the concept that you cannot overdo sound reduction and that it would be wise to ensure that where sound attenuation is used that we go up one level to reduce the noise. This is better than meeting the minimum requirement and ending up with frustrated residents and community As they used to say don t spoil the ship for a halfpenny of tar. We should be adopting a policy for Victoria to reduce what we term acceptable sound levels because noise even at what our expert s consider low levels is not right or safe. Public Transport; One of the major benefits of construction of the Mordialloc Freeway is that it will reduce traffic volumes within local regions, for example on Wells Road Aspendale Gardens and Nepean Highway and Station Street. This will support increased bus usage and improved service times and enable private cars to deliver passengers to train stations with ease. We ask that the plan incorporates intent to increase car parking at or close to the public transport hubs.
Cycling Paths The inclusion of cycling paths is a real asset to the area giving cyclist a safe option. Local Community Arterial Roads: We also raised the need to minimise noise on our local arterial roads, for example Wells Road. In the past Vic Roads has used open grade asphalt on part Wells Road which was successful. We do not know if any resurfacing has taken place since that time and seek assurances that the complete length of Wells Road will be treated in this manner at a future resurfacing. In addition, we see this as an opportunity to make Wells Road safer while at the same time minimising road noise. We ask that once the Mordialloc Freeway has been constructed that Wells Road be resurfaced and the speed limit be reduced to 70kph in line with the southern part of Wells Road. This will reduce road noise, (tyres) while encouraging drivers to stay on the Mordialloc Freeway thereby minimising through traffic on Wells Road improving amenity and safety for all local Residents including our children.