Anzac Park Toowong not to go unscathed by the Legacy Way Tunnel Project, after all! Relocation of water main

While the Western Community Liaison Group Meeting 5 Minutes of 8 June 2011 noted that it was 'highly unlikely' that there would be further interference with ANZAC Park by the Legacy Way Tunnel Project (in addition to the five month Save ANZAC Park campaign and the Legacy Way power supply cable which will cut across ANZAC Park) recently on 19 July we were advised by Transcity that ANZAC Park will be used for access to the water main under the Western Freeway which needs to be relocated. This will have quite an impact on the area below the Dog Off-Leash Area where a significant amount of bushland is proposed to be cleared for the construction of the temporary road needed to access the water main. This area is bushland adjoining what is officially ANZAC Park, however a section of the area proposed to be cleared is on the BCC Heritage listed area of ANZAC Park - Lot 1 RP 18899 (part). The temporary road from Wool Street/Broseley Road is not on official ANZAC Park land. Planning for this is still in the preliminary stages and details still to be finalized.

Access through ANZAC Park!

EIS document - The University of Queensland Archaeological Services Unit Report No. 423b Cultural Heritage Report for the Proposed Northern Link Project September 2008, states at 10.2.3 Construction Access

Any vehicles involved in construction activities must not use Anzac Park as a means of access to the project area nor can it be used for the storage of construction materials.

Transcity have now provided the below details in addition to the Notification posted earlier on this blog:

Transcity will begin works to relocate the water main in August/September 2011. Transcity must lower the existing water main that crosses underneath the Western Freeway approximately 350m to the west of Mt Coot-tha Road to enable the construction of the entry and exit ramps to the Legacy Way Tunnel.

The water main works involve driving a 2.4m tunnel from a launch pit at the western worksite, under the Western Freeway, through to a retrieval pit between the Dog Off-Leash Area and the bikeway adjacent the freeway. The tunnelling equipment will be removed from the retrieval pit, however spoil from the tunnel will be removed from the launch pit at the western worksite.

To facilitate this work, from late August/early September Transcity will build a temporary access road from the end of Wool Street to the retrieval pit area. This work will involve some tree clearing activities although this will be minimised where possible and all disturbed areas will be rehabilitated following the completion of works.

Transcity investigated a number of options to access the retrieval pit area to ensure the least possible impact to the community. These options included:

* Access from the Western Freeway (across the bikeway)
* Utilisation of the existing road within ANZAC Park
* Utilisation of Wool Street onto Council land adjacent to the dog park.

The first option considered was to access the area from the Western Freeway. Unfortunately, this option is not possible as it would require lane closures on the Western Freeway and the Western Freeway bike path on a regular basis to allow vehicles to safely enter and exit at an access point. The Department of Transport and Main Roads will only permit lane closures for this duration to occur at night, which would force all works to happen out of normal hours, adding a significant extension to the works timeframe and night time noise impacts to local residents. Night work such as these are also outside Transcity's allowable hours of work.

The second option was to use the existing road within ANZAC Park. Although this option would have required less establishment work due to the existing road surface within ANZAC Park, it was ruled out as it would have breached the Coordinator General conditions regarding access through ANZAC Park.

The third option considered was to build an access off Wool Street to the Council land adjacent to the Dog Off-Leash Area. Due to the constraints on all other access options, this is the only available possibility. This option provides a direct access that can be safely fenced off. Pedestrian access will be maintained around the Dog Off-Leash Area and to ANZAC Park. Vehicular access to the Dog Off-Leash Area will be via the existing access through ANZAC Park. The Wool Street access option also allows for these works to occur during normal hours, 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Some out of hours work may be required, however Transcity will notify residents in advance of these works occurring. Transcity will rehabilitate the area following these works.

Transcity is still finalising the design of the water main and associated access works and will have more information shortly. We are committed to working with Friends of Anzac Park throughout this process.

If you require any more clarification on the above options, please do not hesitate to contact Transcity on 1800 778 772.