After talking to a few residents, I realised that many of you have not had time to read the various documents about the Metro Rail tunnel.  Here’s a crash course via YouTube videos – but be aware that these are ‘promotional’ videos and obviously show the project in its best possible light.  But they are very informative.

The first one gives an idea of the ‘hole’ we will have outside our building where the TBM will be launched.  You see it at about 50 seconds into this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2NJHI4ZmR8

The second one is about much of the pre-tunnel work.  Something to note is the acoustic shed that they show (this one at City North).  Something like this is proposed outside our building.  It will be around 3 storey’s high.  Unsightly but designed to contain the noise and dust.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1HFLQa4-qY

This one shows some graphics of possible Domain Station.  Note that it is not proposed to have any commercial premises inside Domain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm8T5-ndP3E

This site has a full collection of videos on Metro Rail https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYkhAqVHk4Q-8kIgwMla2vw

And finally if you search for London Crossrail there are heaps of videos of a similar project in London.

For your information this is NOT part of anything that Botanica is involved in.  I THINK that the G12 group are behind this action, but not sure.

I personally think that it is very sad that any trees will go but…

• As I understand it, the difference between the ‘cavern’ method and the ‘cut and cover’ method is only 15-20 trees.  And the cavern method will take longer and so our construction pain will go for longer
• Many of the trees, especially the ones out Botanica are very nearly at the end of their practical lives.  The City of Port Phillip does not have a great record of replacing old trees with decent new trees.  The ‘new’ tree on our doorstep is about 4 years old now!!
• Our submission has strongly recommended that trees that MUST be taken, are taken as late as possible and replaced as early as possible with mature trees.

Bottom line is…be careful signing petitions without knowing the facts.

If you want to read more then you’ll have to wade through lots of documents, sorry couldn’t find it easily.

Thanks Jan for this info

1. Dr John Heilig:  Vibration & regenerated noise from construction

Must accept that there will be challenges but firmly believes they can be managed with appropriate EPRs and the CNVMP (Construction Noise & Vibration Management Plan). Domain buildings recognised as stakeholders with signif vibration & ground-borne noise impact. Believes that infrastructure integrity & personal amenity can be managed & protected. Emphasised that vibration standards worldwide are moving away from specific numeric triggers to managing vibration. Long involved description of British vs Ger standards! Has had a lot of relevant experience. Quite impressive.

2. Nick Tweedie for IAC focussed on the need for dilapidation surveys & determining which buildings would be deemed eligible. Expert pointed out that there are 2 options: distance from the work activity OR assessment of potential vibration/predicted trigger lvl. Agreement that the 2nd option, identifying potentially affected buildings, would be preferable. EPR to be modified to include that buildings which would potentially reach a trigger lvl must have dilapidation/condition report carried out.

Tweedie also made the point that in the RIMG Sect 3.2 Ground-borne noise & vibration, there are no mitigation measures for daytime ground-borne noise exceedence. Discussion re the likely impact of the TBM which would be well above ambient daytime noise levels. Expert agreed that daytime mitigation measures should be included when trigger lvl is reached

3. Paul Chiappi pointed out that, in terms of Human Comfort, (Technical Appendix I, Appendix B), Botanica’s daytime vibration levels are identified as being more than 2 times the maximum guideline target and ground-borne noise levels more than 10dB(A) above the night guideline target. He stressed that resident impact is determined by both level & duration of exceedence. Expert didn’t know how long high levels of vibration would be expected to last. Expert agreed that, as recommended by Neville Goddard, mitigation measures to reduce vibration impact should be included in the CNVMP eg. scheduling rock-breaking works for normal working hours only, adjusting buffer zones, use of low-vibration methods of rock-breaking close to residential receivers.

Jan Swinburne attended the sessions yesterday that were totally focused on noise issues.  A brief summary

• Noise is a large focus of many of the ‘complainants’
• The Metro Rail expert accepted that we would have very high levels of noise inside and outside our apartments
• Need to have predicted high noise level for 40 days in 6 month period before acoustic barriers like double glazing would be considered

• Sleep must be disturbed for 2 consecutive nights before re-location considered
• It is now estimated that the station box construction works will take 6-9 months. That will be the noisiest time with only 6m hoarding as noise protection. Work to be primarily undertaken during normal daytime working hours.

• Most contentious issue is the need for “unavoidable works” which could take place overnight & be noisy.

• Stage 2 work can only occur at night within acoustic sheds or underground
• Night work has to be inaudible in habitable rooms – in theory!
• Under the Resident Impact Mitigation Guidelines there is no respite for daytime works noise. TN43 MM-EES-Technical-Note-043-RIMG-Attachment-A-Residential-Impact-Mitigation-Guidelines-for-Construction

I spent the day at the public hearing again.  Today we went thru the MMRA Traffic guy’s expert statement.  A copy is available at the link below.

MMRA-Transport-Sean-Smedley-Expert-Witness-Statement-20160812

A lot of time was consumed around whether the Domain area could effectively operate with only one lane in each direction.  Effectively the modelling says that they need to reduce the traffic by around 1000 vehicles per hour in the peak – from around 5000 in the two hour peak.  (my layman’s interpretation).  More work required on how they will do that.

The traffic expert, when being cross examined by our barrister, made the comment “Botanica, that building is in a unique position for this project”.  In the discussion on our St Kilda Rd driveway access, the only issue was around the project not wanting to say we would NEVER be impacted for the duration of the project.  They accept that they need to give us access and absolutely minimise any problems.

Botanica was heard and our problems understood.

Things are happening very fast in this space.

Last week two of our experts represented us in the expert “conclaves”.  This is where the Metro Rail subject matter expert meets with various subject matter experts to try and find common ground – without lawyers!!

The attached two documents are the outcome documents from the Traffic and Air Quality sessions.Joint Expert Witness Statement – Air Quality_final [2183933]

Transport Conclave Joint Summary Report [2183934]

Today Jan and I attended the public hearing for the session on Air Quality.  The Metro Rail expert presented this MM180_MMRA_Lakmaker_.  Various panel members and others then had a chance to cross examine.  Paul Chiappi (our barrister) asked about 35 minutes of questions.

It was fairly heavy going and legalistic – I was pleased that Paul understood our issues and made sure that Botanica was heard loud and clear.

Next week is traffic and noise/vibration.

The schedule is MMRP-Timetable (subject to change of course)

If you want some light reading – have a look here.  Hundreds of pages are being added daily.