'Protect Our Heritage Inc' is a local community group who has recently been formed to unite local residents as a group to protect local heritage and say No to the E6 Freeway Proposal.
Latest News
29th July 2010 unfortunately for all community residents, City Of Whittlesea Councillors who stood united to Say No to the proposed E6 transport corridor, now included within Planning Scheme Amendment VC68, was passed in the Parliament yesterday against opposition leaders request that it be excluded.
This means that all property owners where the E6 transport proposal is pencilled in to be now have an overlay upon their properties. That is every property owner between Beveridge to the point of entry on the Western Ring Rd.
It now stand that a freeway wall of division will divide our community residents and a concern that the transport corridor will not be FREE and create further financial burden on locals to use and therefore mostly used by traffic going through than service local community needs. 
If you are experiencing emotional heartache and stress please seek your doctors advice. There are many FREE professional supports available to you.
(Even Vic Roads) has offered you FREE support as they realise the emotional trauma many of our community residents are suffering. Ph 1300 361 008
PPC worldwide is a professional Independent Employment Assistance Program for Organisations and your visits are treated private and confidentially without pursuasive influences. (If you find this untrue please refer back to your doctor and contact us so we can investigate as to why not).
Still we are waiting to hear if commonsense will prevail and the proposed E6 be excluded form the VC67. In June sitting of parliament it was proposed by the opposition party that it be excluded and it was acknowledged that legal advice would have to be investigated and an outcome will be made at the next sitting which is scheduled mid July.
OMR/E6 Transport Corridor: PROJECT UPDATE
Please note that the webpage: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/omr has been updated to reflect the latest status on the planning process, including Amendment VC 67 which is before Parliament for ratification. 23rd March 2010 Brumby gets deal on $2bn fringe tax although on the 24th February 2010 the GAIC TAX was voted down in parliament and as the government planning minister linked the UGB and the E6 transport together they are all currently STOPPED however we are concerned that this may be only temporarily if the government was reallected later this year in November.
Housing 36 million , Insight - SBS, 2nd March 2010 Includes an interview with Planning Minister Justin Madden. In part 3 he refers to the GAIC as a way to "recoup developer revenue" and states that he is confident that the GAIC tax will get through the upper house with a "bit of work".
OMR/E6 Transport Corridor PROJECT UPDATE 16/11/09
The Minister for Planning is now seeking Parliamentary ratification for Amendment VC 55. Subject to Parliament's approval of the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution legislation it will then come into operation.
(Therefore if the GAIC tax is not passed in Parliament the OMR/E6 corridor project will aslo not be passed in Parliament)(read 'What is wrong with the proposed GAIC tax')
If you say NO to the E6 it is important to send emails and participate where you can and make your voices heard and show your signs.
Labour MP Speech by Kelvin Thomson MHR 14 Point Plan on Population Reform:
There is an alternative to runaway population (read speech) 12/11/09
Protect Our Heritage and Community Concerns:
1. Not sighted any traffic research report that justifies the proposed E6 transport/corridor.
2. The state government has encouraged increased residential growth yet failed to deliver our community strategic planning of transport infrastructure that has been required for many many years so how can an accurate report be done.
3. Transport and planning ministers have suggested that a new transport corridor will support the future needs for locals yet, cannot guarantee it will be a FREE transport corridor, and that it will assist with correcting current traffic congestion in and around the whole of our communities and save residents time to travel home. Maybe a few but we want a majority outcome.
4. Limiting on and off ramps so therefore a through road that really will not have the intention of being built to service local residents. 4. Intentions of it not being a FREEway which highlights it more than likely will be a TOLLWAY.
5. Proposed E6 development will be a huge cost to the developer so therefore the cost will have be recovered from local community residents, economic businesses and all other transport users.
6. If a TOLLWAY Increased costs for local community residents to travel everyday within there local community.
7. Cost incurred on all taxpayers for building a parallel transport corridor.
8. The existing Craigieburn Freeway and the proposed E6 run virtually parallel and is almost exactly the same length (23.5km) and both finish at the Western Ring Road.
9. Safety concerns for the impact on families within the communities when large transport carriers are within metres of their homes.
10. Offsetting: There has not been significant proof that offsetting works and saves federally protected land of significance which is EPBC protected which raises environmental concerns. (further info)
11. Proposed E6 varies with the land acquisition widths, which raises concerns if the reality of of a bigger economic picture is being drawn. 90m-180m-400m?
12. The bigger economic picture concern: It raises extreme concerns if the transport corridor is eventually to be again up-graded to service the Regional Rail Link intention of delivering increased goods purchased from overseas countries that will need to arrive at Altona and proposed up-grade Hastings Ports) as these products will then need to be distributed throughout Australia by only one or two very large privately owned transport companies. Encouraging the growth of importing overseas products is not only economically unsustainable for the future of our country and our communities but increasing the Rail transportation that carries containers of dangerous chemicals throughout residential communities and side by side public transport would be disastrous of any government to allow. (find out more)
Mission
Protect Our Heritage Inc mission is to inform the local community that their local council, City of Whittlesea, strategic planners have pre-planned but the State Government and VicRoads are failing to deliver our communities overall transport infrastructure and therefore failing to address the needs of current local residents and businesses which will also support or growing future residents and businesses.
The up-grading of the pre-planned E6 Arterial Rd to a freeway/tollway? transport corridor will have adverse and disastrous affects for many residents personally and financially as well as a majority of surrounding local residents by creating a great wall between residents and their communities. The construction will also cause the disastrous destruction of further Federally Protected EPBC environments.
All local councillors, many residents, environmental and heritage groups are united the State Government's proposal of up-grading City of Whittlesea's planned improved arterial road to a freeway/tollway is not necessary and a waist of taxpayers money.
Public meeting have been arranged to inform local residents of the State Governments intentions and all City of Whittlesea residents are urged to attend.
Parallel Universe (Read AGE Media Release: Parallel universe)
22/09/09 Whittlesea Leader reports:
Justin Madden MP backflip on UGB offer to residents to be exempt. read article
Danielle Green MP would like the government to consider the proposed E6 freeway/transport corridor retain as an Arterial Rd but Tim Pallas MP says Freeway proposal stands till 2020.
read article
19/09/09 Transport Minister Mr Tim Pallas would like to introduce yet another tax that wil be hidden but flow onto families but will help cover the cost of the NEW Transport Corridors which include the current E6 proposal.
We would like to help the government save taxpayers money and save more money for ALL Families throughout Victoria.
Ever wondered how many taxes we as hard working citizens we now endure?
Greg has written a poem and listed all he is currently aware of. read poem and list
16/09/09 We understand the frustration many local resident commuters are experiencing and therefore some feel a freeway may be the answer:
read Whittlesea Leader 'have your say 16-09-09'
Please Note the editors comment: E6 always been planned to be an Arterial Rd not a Freeway.
Transport Minister Mr Tim Pallas states:E6 will save time. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail!
Whittlesea Leader... read the article and our response: Who is failing who?
At a local business meeting a few years ago it was mentioned that State Government and VicRoads Authority unfortunately wait for a crisis, which is heavy road congestion and/or unfortunately fatalities, before pre-planned roads are constructed. WHY? This causes great stress and unnecessary waiste of time and finance eg: vehicle fuel on local community residents and businesses!
Protect Our Heritage mission is to inform the local community that their local council, City of Whittlesea, strategic planners have pre-planned but the State Government and VicRoads are failing to deliver our communities overall transport infrastructure and therefore failing to address the needs of current local residents and businesses which will also support or growing future residents and businesses.
PROTECT OUR HERITAGE RESPONSE TO MINISTER TIM PALLAS New Proposal
26/08/09 Just because the Government alters the course STILL does not alter our UNITED COMMUNITIES VOICES that this Freeway/Transport Corridor is NOT necessary and a WAISTE of TAXPAYERS MONEY.
STATE GOVERNMENT MEDIA RELEASE -Changes to OMR/E6 Transport Corridor proposed
The State Government new detour! (read article)
25/08/09 View NEW alternative options
*Epping Derby Drive to Lehmanns Rd
*Wollert Woodstock Grants Rd to Lehmanns Rd
*Mickleham Donnybrook Rd to Hume Freeway
Round Two Submissions were due by 21/09/09
Information session dates
Danielle Green MP sends community residents a mixed message via mail??
1/09/09 We as residents are sent letter that state a 6 lane Freeway/transport corridor and while attending VIC Roads information evenings etc recieve a mixed message stating:
FIRST an Arterial Rd but what is SECOND? Maybe attending public meetings the labour government might hear the load and clear united stand of SAY NO as not needed and a waist of TAXPAYERS MONEY (which is our money!)
Local Thomastown, Mill Park , Lalor, Epping, Wollert and Woodstock residents united!
 
The Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain (of which Wollert and Woodstock are situated in), was listed as critically endangered within a Conservation Advice report which was approved by the Minister on 18th June 2009.
This was about the same day local residents and business received notification that their unique landscape of Majestic River Red Gums (100-400) years old, their heritage buildings and rock walls, all rich with ancestral history will be engulfed along with many of their homes, businesses and all their local community assets eg: Local Store/PostOffice, CFA and Recreational Centres by the E6 Freeway Proposal put forward by State Government of Victoria and Vic Roads. (Want to read the report?)
Many Wollert and Woodstock residents are still coming to the terms with the tragic and enormous loss suffered on 'Black Saturday' only a few months earlier but out of the extreme heartache the Australian Spirit of mateship spread across the land and now again we as local residents have joined to stand our ground and SAY NO to the unnessasary and destructive E6 Freeway Proposal.
To the Legislative Council of Victoria
The Petition of certain citizen's of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the concerns of the local community that the proposed growth areas infrastructure/E6 Freeway is not required as there are other road alternatives to support this growth area.
Your petitioners therefore requires that the State Government immediately withdraw the proposal in the correct forms and consult further with the landowners and communities to create a fairer outcome.
(You can help us by printing a petition form and return it to us signed)
Whittlesea Council to raise E6 road plan questions (Whittlesea Leader Article)
Media Contact Representative: Wendy Campbell
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