The July Yarra Council meeting was dominated by the issue of the tunnel linking the Eastern Freeway to Melbourne’s west. A Channel 7 news crew and the Herald Sun were in attendance alongside a big public gallery to cover the story of Yarra Council’s position on the tunnel.
Prior to the meeting the Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel group (YCAT) held a rally outside to push for clear opposition to the tunnel. This action went live to air on the Channel 7 news at 6pm, with an interview with SP Councillor Stephen Jolly and YCAT member, Keith. YCAT used the occasion to display their new banner for the first time.
Keith from YCAT at July Yarra Council meeting
Council voted 9-0 to oppose the tunnel but an amendment to leave out reference to the rail tunnel proposal was lost 5-4 (with SP and Greens losing to the ALP and independents). No-one is necessarily opposed to the rail tunnel but there are many more important public transport projects needed, such as a rail link to Doncaster. Eddington only included this tunnel as a cover for the real agenda of the road tunnel.
The SP amendment to get Council support for YCAT and also for ‘No Tunnel – Yes to Doncaster Rail Link’ banners outside Fitzroy and Collingwood Town Halls was also passed.
