Environment Effects Statement released for Melbourne Metro Tunnel
The Victorian Government has released the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the new Metro Tunnel, which shows construction will cause significant disruption over many years but will deliver decades of benefits.
Premier Daniel Andrews last week joined Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan at the site of the new Domain Station, to release new station images and information that will go on public display as part of the EES.
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.
The new Arden and Parkville Stations will be built using a similar ‘cut-and-cover’ method. The proposed entrance to Arden will be on Laurens Street with provision for a second entrance south of Arden Street.
Parkville Station will have two connections at Melbourne University, and a third serving the hospital precinct at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
The CBD stations next to Flinders Street and Melbourne Central will be built through a mined cavern approach, which will reduce impact on Swanston Street and the city.
CBD South Station will include entrances in City Square, Federation Square and Flinders Lane, and a direct underground connection to Flinders Street Station. CBD North will connect directly to Melbourne Central, and have two proposed entrances on the corners of Franklin and La Trobe Streets.
The EES also proposes new tram connections on Toorak Road West, Park Street in South Melbourne and Flinders Street, which will allow trams to spread out across the city, to where they will be needed most in the future.
More information is available from the Melbourne Metro Rail website at <http://melbournemetro.vic.gov.au/>.
Source: News Release, Urbanalyst, May 31, 2016