Friends of Banyule

17/06/2026

Disturbing Information from the Level Crossing Removal Project regarding Ruthven St, Macleod Crossing Removal
- virtually all the trees along the western side, the homes side of Ellesmere Parade have been slated for removal. 😡

The same LXRP playbook of almost total tree removal is playing over again!
This is despite LXRP staff stating that the contractors "have been challenged to save as many trees as possible!"

Many community members are feeling deliberately misled and uninformed about the tree loss resulting from the proposed pedestrian path and extent of works along Ellesmere Parade.

No plans have been provided at any stage through the consultation process showing a detailed design of the pedestrian path and associated tree removal. While the "final plans"that came out on Fri 11th June lack detail and miss half of Ellesmere Parade.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Almost all the trees on the northern half of Ellesmere Parade will be removed, with the exception of a few protected Studley Gums.

The LXRP timelines on all community documentation are deliberately vague, and they have now secured the whole site, so the extensive and disturbing tree removal could happen any time.
We have seen what happened at Rosanna, Greensborough and Montmorency 😭
The same wanton and unnecessary tree carnage cannot be permitted here by contractors who trash, the joint, get paid and move on.

We only have one chance to protect our trees and save precious habitat and wildlife 🙏🦉🐦🦇

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
1. Complain to LXRP about the Ruthven Street project via email address: [email protected]
2. Attend the information session on Monday 22nd June at Macleod College. There are three sessions:
4.30 to 5.15pm
5.30 to 6.15pm
6.30 to 7.15pm
Register here: https://engage.vic.gov.au/lxrp-ruthven-street
3.Tell everyone you know to complain to LXRP, and send emails to the council, and local members.:
- Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines [email protected]
- Liberal Candidate for Ivanhoe Oscar Lopez [email protected]
Greens Candidate for Ivanhoe Nina Crawley [email protected]
Aiv Puglielli - Greens MP for North-East Metroi [email protected]
Liberal Upper House Member for North-Eastern Metropolitan Region Nick McGowan [email protected] the Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure Evan Mulholland MP [email protected]
Liberal Upper House Member for North-Eastern Metropolitan Region Richard Welch MP
Labor Upper House Member for North-Eastern Metropolitan Region Sonja Terpstra MP

Public Transport Ombudsman [email protected] (Use this PTO Reference - PTO2026-36041)
Ibbot Ward Councillor Alicia Curry [email protected]
Banyule Mayor Alison Champion [email protected]

Please note - this post has heavily borrowed from similar posts on other community fbook pages Residents of Eaglemont,Heidelberg,Rosanna, Viewbank, Victoria, Australia, Warringal Conservation Society The Village (Rosanna & Macleod) etc & we want to thank the original author for raising this issue so clearly

We’re removing the Ruthven Street, Macleod level crossing by building a new rail bridge over the road.

16/06/2026

North East Link works continue to wreak havoc on our local environment and community. I'm disturbed by the reports of a sediment island forming in the Yarra river as a direct result of runoff from the construction sites.

I asked the minister for transport infrastructure whether they plan to take any action to protect our local waterways from this pollution.

I'll keep you updated once we receive a response.

09/06/2026

North East Link land grab along the Eastern Freeway continues.
More parkland taken for project access and drainage works.....

09/06/2026

PLEASE SHARE AND TAKE ACTION!

HALT the ONGOING TREE LOSS and DRASTIC PRUNING happening in Banyule City Council area

Banyule City Council;s recent policy shift has triggered a municipality-wide program that could remove or severely prune up to approximately 900 healthy, mature street trees.
It has been rolled out without public consultation, despite the material impact on residents, shade, habitat and neighbourhood character.
We need to flood Banyule City Council staff and Councillors with letters to push a ‘Pause, Assess, Protect’ plan before the destruction goes any further.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Local Banyule resident Nick Rogers started this campaign and has set up a great website explaining the issue.
https://www.save-our-trees.com
His email for this campaign is: [email protected]

We have already lost too many trees from infill development, North East Link and Level Crossing Removal Project

Friends of Banyule is💯supportive of this campaign

27/05/2026

"Feds detail fraud, theft allegations on Big Build"
Kieran Rooney and Daniella White
The Age
May 26, 2026

Eleven of the biggest infrastructure projects in Victoria - including the multibillion-dollar Suburban Rail Loop and North East Link - are now the subject of 56 separate allegations of fraud, corruption, theft and criminal behaviour after a rise in reports of suspect conduct.
Figures revealed at a Senate estimates hearing reveal the $26 billion North East Link is the project responsible for the most complaints, just 24 hours after Premier Jacinta Allan said there was "no evidence" bikies had benefited from that project.....
The Commonwealth officials said they had been notified of 28 allegations related to the North East Link, ranging from corruption, conflicts of interest, fraud, breaches of workplace laws and criminal behaviour.
The federal government has put $5billion towards the project.
On Sunday, Allan told reporters there was no evidence of project funding ending up with bikies, when she was asked about this masthead's reporting that a bikie-linked company secured contracts as the leading women-led supplier of female workers on Labor's Big Build.
A landmark report into CFMEU corruption, released three months ago, found bribery and bikie gangs had infiltrated major government infrastructure projects.

The premier said she had given Victoria Police and the Labour Hire Authority the powers needed to investigate claims if they are made.
However, the figures released at Senate estimates show fraud, theft, corruption and criminal behaviour allegations continue to be a serious issue across the Big Build and are being investigated.

Allegations were also more prevalent in Victoria, which accounts for 56 out of the 63 allegations reported to the federal government from around the country.' !!!

The lack of Accountability is mind blowing - but we know this because of how unaccountable the North East Link project build has been and by how many Environmental Performance Requirements have been regularly breached without consequence.

Is it any wonder impacted communities have lost all trust with NELP and the contractors

26/05/2026

Bubbling on the Yarra back in action.
From pressurised air in front of North East Link Tunnel Boring Machine - Gillian.
According to the online TBM tracker, the second TBM, Gillian, is very close to this location. 🤔

25/05/2026

Friends of Banyule committee president, Michelle, is on the North East Link Community Liaison Group North.

CLG members along with some Banyule City Council councillors and staff had the privilege of seeing where Tunnel Boring Machine Zelda emerged from the North bound tunnel beyond Manningham Rd -
A few hours after the politicians.

The TBM is massive and the tunnels quite the engineering feat. However we are still pressing NELP for better outcomes - an improved project with less environmental, health and social harms.

It can be done and we shouldn't expect anything less because this is in our patch, affecting our environment, our wildlife, our homes and our health.

18/05/2026

North East Link Elder St Road and "Green Bridge" works resulted in signficant mud over Elder St on Sunday that spread far and wide to Manfred St way past Fensham and Longmuir Rd.
A traffic hazard and a stormwater pollutant.
This was reported to NELP and was largely rectified by late today.

Why does it take community complaints for remedial and appropriate clean up to occur
To stop traffic hazards and water pollution of Watsonia Creek ?? 🤔


Banyule City Council
Environment Protection Authority Victoria
Gabrielle Williams MP
Enver Erdogan MP
Sonya Kilkenny MP
Yarra Riverkeeper Association