The Environment Effects Statement (EES) assessment for the Metro Tunnel was released today, paving the way for major construction to start in early 2017.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne completed the assessment after reviewing the EES, public submissions and an independent Inquiry and Advisory Committee report.

There will be a number of major changes to manage and reduce project impacts including:

•                  realigning the tunnel entrance in Kensington to reduce the number of properties that will be acquired from 22 to one

•                  adopting changes that mean more than 100 trees will now no longer be impacted

•                  no longer using Fawkner Park as a tunnelling support site, and

•                  confirmation the Metro Tunnel will travel underneath CityLink.

The EES process spanned 18 months and involved 7,000 pages of documentation and technical reports, 379 public submissions and more than 180 hours of public hearings.

The full assessment report is available to view on the Department of Land, Planning, Water and Environment website. You can also read the Minister for Planning’s media release.

 http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/environmental-plan-in-place-for-the-metro-tunnel/. 51/16