North East Link project

The North East Link (NEL) is a freeway-standard road that is being built by the Victorian Government. It will link the Metropolitan Ring Road (M80) in Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen Road. The North East Link Program (NELP) is managing the delivery of this large-scale road infrastructure project.

We continue to advocate on behalf of the Boroondara community for the best outcomes as planning and development of the NEL progresses.

Status update

North East Link (NEL) Eastern Freeway upgrades work underway

NELP contractors, the Eastern Freeway Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA) are constructing workers’ compounds, materials laydown and temporary truck access off the Eastern Freeway into Koonung Creek Reserve.

Temporary fencing and hoarding have been installed along the length of Koonung Creek Reserve and cyclists and pedestrian diversions are in place. Sections of the Koonung Creek Trail have been realigned to accommodate the construction compound footprint.

A materials laydown area has been built in part of Leonis Avenue Reserve and traffic management will be in place on Bulleen Road and Doncaster Road for several years while works are underway and a new Bulleen Road bridge constructed.

If you have any concerns about Eastern Freeway widening works please email [email protected] or phone the Big Build Customer Service Centre on 1800 105 105.

You can find current works notifications on Victoria's Big Build website.

Occupation of Council land for North East Link works

The NELP has legislative power to use Council owned ‌land for the NEL and Eastern Freeway widening works.

The NELP does not need Council’s permission to occupy the land and Council cannot stop NELP using our land.

Koonung Creek Reserve (KCR)

Sixty-five percent of the KCR is being used for the project. Signage installed by the EBTA advises what works are beginning, where and when.

The wetland will be within the construction zone and will be inaccessible for the construction period.

We are advocating to EBTA and to NELP to ensure facilities (gazebos, seats etc) affected by the occupation are relocated or replaced in areas that can still be accessed by the community.

Freeway Golf Course

EBTA is occupying land within the Freeway Golf Course for construction compounds. Uses include housing workers and their vehicles, material laydown and to enable construction of new roads and ramps.

The compound does not affect play on the course.

Leonis Avenue Reserve

BTA is occupying part of Leonis Avenue Reserve while works occur on the Bulleen Road and Eastern Freeway interchange, and the new Koonung Creek Trail underpass under Bulleen Road is built.

Council endorses and adopts a Koonung Creek Reserve master plan design

From 25 September to 21 October 2023, Council consulted on a draft concept design for the Koonung Creek Reserve. This document was prepared by the NELP. Based on community feedback, Council officers amended NELP’s draft concept design. The master plan design was presented to Council on 26 February 2024 where it was endorsed and adopted.

To view the endorsed and adopted Koonung Creek Master Plan design and a summary of the consultation findings and next steps, visit Koonung Creek Reserve master plan page on Your Say Boroondara.

Eastern Freeway upgrades: Urban Design and Landscape Plan

The NELP released the Eastern Freeway Upgrades Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP) for public consultation on 9 October 2023.

The consultation was open for only 21 days, providing little time for residents and community groups to read, understand and respond to the UDLP consultation.

Council’s submission to this UDLP was endorsed by Council on Monday 27 November 2023. This UDLP is yet to be approved by the Minister for Planning.

Find out more about the UDLP on the Big Build website.

Read our submission to the Eastern Freeway Upgrades Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP)

City of Boroondara submission to North East Link Program and BTA 6.11 MB [PDF] 29 November 2023

NEL Tunnels: Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP)

On 3 February 2023, the Minister for Planning, the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, approved the NEL Tunnel Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP) prepared by the Spark Consortium. You can find the endorsed UDLP on the North East Link website.

The UDLP includes designs for:

the Eastern Freeway, Bulleen Road and North East Link interchange
the Eastern Freeway from Musca Street Reserve to the Estelle Street footbridge
the western third of Koonung Creek Reserve in Balwyn North
part of the Freeway Golf Course
former Boroondara Tennis Centre land.

We prepared a submission to Spark’s plan on behalf of Boroondara residents. Council endorsed the submission on 20 June 2022.

Read our submission to the NEL Tunnels Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP)

Spark – Central (tunnels) package – Urban Design and Landscape Plan Submission from Boroondara City Council 946.23 KB [PDF] 26 July 2022

NEL South Package: Contract award

In December 2023, Nexus – made up of Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction, Symal Infrastructure, WSP Australia and Arcadis Australia Pacific – was appointed to deliver the South Package. The South Package is critically important to the Boroondara community and Council because it interfaces with residential areas, Belle Vue Primary School, the northern chain of parks and the Freeway Golf Course.

Nexus, also known as the Eastern Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA), includes the interchange at Bulleen Road and the Eastern Freeway, cycling pedestrian paths, the first 7 km of the Eastern Express Busway, and delivery of reinstated parkland at Koonung Creek Reserve.

We continue to work with EBTA and NELP through the design process to achieve the best outcomes for our community. We will also work with them during construction to ensure community impacts are minimised as much as possible.