I have just been looking at the recent stats for the blog. The numbers are really gratifying, thanks to everyone who has been clicking.

Last month we hit 1000 views, the second highest ever. The only time the blog hits were higher was when we had the floods out the front and the blog had some v graphic photos/videos.

You may know but I do get paid for all the clicks – in July I had $0.33 dropped into my account. That takes the total for 2020 to a grand total of $1.41, in that time you’ve been shown over 10 000 ads.

I should add that I can’t get the money out until get to a total of $100 – so more months like this and I’ll be rich in about 25 years.

I must apologise by yesterday’s post, my tongue in check about the new station was badly misunderstood by several readers. One reader in Greece even sent me photos of the Athens Station

The above photo is more like what the new Anzac/Domain Station will look like.

Yesterday’s photo was of a temporary structure for workers, to keep them dry getting to and from their crib rooms.

I know that times are tough and that we’ve had to cut the cost of the new Anzac Station back to just under A$1Bn but I think it looks cheap.

Architects have told me that the extensive use of ‘forest friendly’ timber throughout helps ensures that the station receives a 17 star green rating. I also understand that the polycarbonate roofing has a ripple effect to match the corrugated iron commonly found in outback Australian dunnies of the 19th century…a strong link to our past.

Want to understand more about the tunnel boring. Here are two v good videos

See attached pack of information presented today

We discussed trucks and truck routes, lots of info.

Truck monitoring system

The amazing system that tracked truck routes and monitored speed is not being used at all. The company that has that system in their trucks is now not the company that is hauling the dirt…hmm not happy, not told until we asked.

When I pointed out that it seems a very high proportion of drivers are speeding, I was told that the trucking company has been asked to tell the drivers not to speed. I questioned whether that would work and remined them I’d given them evidence that MOST of their trucks are speeding every hour of every night.

Routes

They explained that could no longer use Southbank Blvd for full trucks due to the lane narrowing and also that City of PP and City of M asked them to stop using Dorcas St.

They are working very hard to find another route. An audit has been done on a possible route for full trucks. It is in the pack but essentially trucks would turn right onto Linlithgow and left onto Alexandra. A road safety audit has been completed and trucks may be able to go that way next week.

When I asked why trucks are heading down St Kilda Rd to Nepean Hwy, Rob Mair explained that some truck drivers were doing that to avoid night works on the Monash. He stressed that they were only permitted to go down Nepean Hwy if there was a major accident on the Monash. I said it seems that every truck day and night is doing it.

Bottom line – next week hopefully trucks that are destined for the Westgate (it would seem to be no trucks at the moment) will not go past us. Sometime in the future empty trucks may go an alternate route. I asked if they could use Dorcas St 2-3 times a week, to give us a break. Rob Mair said that such a scheme would be too hard for the truck drivers.

CYP is also looking to fix the various bumps in St Kilda Rd to make the noise levels lower.

Vibration

CYP’s vibration expert (Kym Burgemeister) talked at some length. He said that the vibration he recorded back in June was around 17-18 Hz. This is below the audible hearing range but can cause items to vibrate (and we could hear those items vibrate).

The Slurry Treatment Plant at Edmund Herring Oval has two banks of three shakers. They are designed to get the water out of the slurry. One of those shakers is running at a different frequency.

CYP are looking to bring a device across from a Perth site that shifts the phases of the shakers. This is akin to getting soldiers to march out of step as they cross a bridge.

Kym commented that this issue is quite rare and unusual that the vibration has travelled so far. MAY also vary due to weather conditions. He requested that it would be useful if people keep a diary of good and bad days.

Melbourne Grammar also having similar issues.

My guess is that we may see an improvement towards the end of August. That allows for gear to be shipped from Perth and installed here…and that it works!!

I decided to be a little more scientific and look at every truck between 10pm-11pm. Most are still speeding

A number of you commented that the trucks were particularly bad last night. I agree and ran my new system across the video file. You can see them all here.

So between 10:15pm and 6am, there was 135 trucks – almost one every 3 minutes.

…and the speeding question?? Harder to be definitive but this video shows a handful that I checked. Not exactly admissible in court but pretty definitive.

I know that a number of you felt that last night was the worst for some time, here is today’s update from CYP. Feel free to ring the 24 hour number 1800 105 105.

Vibration

As mentioned, today we held a further specialist meeting to review the monitoring and trial results, as well as potential technical options.

We are working to progress a potential mitigation option with the installation of some additional technical equipment by Herrenknecht. This afternoon we are seeking some further technical advice on this option, and the availability of the specialist personnel and equipment required given the current COVID-19 travel and quarantine restrictions.

Our acoustic engineer (Dr Kym Burgemeister) has examined the data from a previous application of this technology and it has shown varying degrees of effectiveness. To further develop the baseline, Kym would like to undertake some additional night-time monitoring to be conducted prior to the installation. I will keep you updated on the timing of the monitoring equipment arrival and the installation.  We’re looking to undertake this monitoring as soon as possible.

Trucks

I’ve also spoken to the traffic team today about how soon we can implement the proposed new egress route from site. The traffic team have been in frequent communication each day with RPV and City of Melbourne, working together to progress this as quickly as possible. We are required to undertake a Road Safety Audit (RSA), a review of the swept paths of the trucks and a cyclist count on the route to be undertaken prior to gaining approval to implement this. We are aiming to complete these as soon as possible, if the RSA does not recommend any other interventions, a route switch on the 10^th August may be feasible, however they will do this sooner if they can. I will keep you updated on the progress. This would reduce the truck numbers by up to 50%.

Charlie the tram whisperer and Jeff the West Aussie have spent a fair chunk of today on the tram squeal goo dispensers.

I understand that they stripped and cleaned two blocked bars…whatever that means. But already seems better.

Do you think it is any better??