Freeway Noise
In its plans to widen the Monash freeway by adding an extra lane in each direction, the Brumby Labor Government intended to remove the noise barriers, widen the freeway and then re-erect the old, dilapidated noise barriers. In doing so it did not take into account of the growth in noise and the associated risk to neighbouring communities.
The Government’s requirements placed on freeways are different depending on whether they are privately or publicly owned. CityLink and EastLink, as roads that are privately owned, are required to meet a 63-decibel standard. Government roads are only required to meet a 68-decibel standard.
This is a logarithmic scale, so the increase in noise is in fact about 30 per cent greater. For instance, a resident living next to a government road would suffer from 30 per cent more noise than if he/she lived next to a privately owned freeway. There are real questions of equity about how this operates.
In this instance, particularly in the electorate of Burwood, the member for Burwood in the Assembly, Mr Stensholt, has been silent on the matter.
In government, the Liberal Party applied a standard of 63 db to both public and private sections of the Monash Freeway. Since coming to government Labor, under John Brumby has weakened this standard, allowing much greater noise levels on the publicly owned sections of this freeway. The decision of the government to weaken freeway standards is likely to have impacts on the health and quality of life of nearby residents. It is also false economy, given the growth projections on freeway usage and the consequent need as noise exceeds thresholds, to reinstall retro-fitted noise barriers.
Poster objecting to Monash Freeway noise levels. Please feel free to print and distribute this poster.
In July 2008 David Davis circulated a letter to residents in the area, inviting them to a public meeting to discuss noise issues associated with the freeway widening.
Further in July, letters were written to all councillors of local coucils abutting the freeway, expressing concerns about noise and then updating them on matters raised in the public meeting.
A public rally was organised on 19th Julyby a group of concerned residents, the Noise Abatement Action Group. Click here to view TV clip of public rally of concerned residents.
Another rally was held on 4th Octaber. Click here to view October noise protest rally.
A Monash Freeway Noise Petition to the Legislative Council was distributed.
The petition with 345 signatures was laid on the table in the Legislative Council on 31 Jul 2008. Another petition with 128 signatures was laid on the table in the Legislative Council on 19 Aug 2008 and another with 156 signatures on 10 Sep 2008.
David Davis raised the issue in the Legislative Council on 31 Jul 2008, 9 Sep 2008, 7 Oct 2008, 4 Feb 2009 (refer page 115) and on 11 Mar 2009.
