I met with the Metro Rail guys and our lawyers on Friday to discuss our EES submission.  In those conversations, the Metro Rail guys gave us a few updates.

1. The option of using Fawkner Park as a Tunnel Boring Site (meaning that we will only have one tunnel boring machine site at 400 St K Rd) has been dropped.  There is a little more info here
2. A contract has been let for the sewer relocation work.  That is largely Domain Rd.
3. Buildings like ours will get a pre-work integrity check at Metro Rail cost.
4. The current plan is to erect an acoustic shed to house the Domain work site.  It will be roughly 3 stories high.
5. Material coming out of the tunnel will be a slurry.  It will be piped to Edmund Herring Oval for dewatering and the soil will be trucked away from there.
6. During the major work, traffic lanes and trams will be on the other side of St K Rd at around Bowen Cres with the work site on our side.  The traffic will then swing over to our side near Bowen Lane.  This is to allow the right station positioning and right tram angles.  This has not changed since early designs.
7. They have done extensive work to ensure access to our basement carpark.  Will be a little complex and entry likely to be via left turn from Bowen Cres and not directly from St K Rd.  Will be 7*24 via traffic management person, like a private driveway extension.

Little is finalised but I am happy with the level of engagement and discussion.  All of these matters are likely to be discussed at our panel hearing.

16-07-02_DRAFT Botanica Melbourne Metro EES Submission

This is the draft submission for the consideration of the Committee.  After receiving feedback from a number of owners / residents, I believe that this document reasonably represent those overall concerns.

Please be aware that our legal advice is that this document should be kept at a fairly high level and that we make more detailed claims at the hearings in August / September.

You should also be aware that this is only the draft version and not the final version.

Our legal advice is also that we are better served by one strong overall submission than numerous small personal submissions.  In that light, I would prefer you give me feedback on this document rather than make your own submission.  But if you still feel the need to make your own submission, I understand and respect that decision.

Gary

The latest short video is here.

Worth listening to!!

The Metro Rail people have today released the Environmental Effects Study (EES).  The associated press release says (in part)

“The EES also outlines the significant impacts on open space, roads and other transport, including temporary and permanent closures of some streets and occupation of public areas along the tunnel alignment. Some of these impacts will last 3-5 years during the construction phase.

The EES reveals concept designs, exact locations and depths for the five new underground stations that will be built as part of the Metro Tunnel Project, and how they will be built.

The new Domain Station will be built 15 metres below St Kilda Road using an advanced cut and cover approach. The station will include three entrances: one in the Shrine of Remembrance Reserve, one at the relocated Domain tram interchange, and another in the open space where the South African Soldiers Memorial is currently located.”

There is a mass of documents, all available here.  I’d suggest the Executive Summary is a good place to start.

We are intending to make a formal submission on behalf of the Botanica residents, feedback welcome.

• Should residents / owners put in their own comments to Metro Rail?

I am submitting my feedback to them as Chairman of The Botanica Owners Corp and I am trying to represent views of most residents.  But I do not know everyone’s views.  I am very happy for anyone to submit further feedback to Metro Rail.

The best email  address to use is james.tonkin@melbournemetro.vic.gov.au

James is Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relation, Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

• Modifications to our carpark would be expensive and involve legal costs etc.

I don’t think it is feasible to modify our carpark to allow basement vehicles to enter/exit via Bowen Cres.  However if that did happen then Metro Rail would pick up all costs.

• Concerns on noise and dust during construction

They are well aware of this being a major issue.  In the last few months, they have been in contact with the organisation who is completing a similar project in London.  This has meant that they now believe that the ‘open hole’ period will be reduced from around 36 months to 24-30 months.  That’s still a long time but the focus of making this time period shorter is great.

They have agreed to regular washing of our building.

Going forward there will be an opportunity for The Botanica OC and individuals to provide formal feedback.  At this time you can comment on issues such as hours of work, noise, dust, local amenity and the like

I have some contacts in other buildings that are also meeting with Metro Rail – I have attached a copy of information that has been provided to them.  The first half page is blank so that their names are not published.

2016 03 Melb Metro Rail update

We will build on this at our meeting.  Main issues to date for us are

• Confirmation that the emergency exit will not be outside our building
• Clarification of exhaust location
• Impact on trees during and after change
• Building / car park access
• General impact during the construction
• Bike lanes – make sure any changes are co-ordinated.  Don’t spend a fortune installing one and then rip it out
• Traffic impact during and after change