Scotch College

CityLink Tollway Widening

1. Scotch College seeks better traffic noise protection

Scotch College is examining all possible means to ensure Transurban/CityLink meets higher standards for traffic noise reduction when it widens the Southern Link of the CityLink Tollway.

Initially the tollway operator agreed only to build noise barriers which meet minimum requirements. In subsequent discussion with the School the company agreed to provide further enhancement to reflect additional height barriers paid for by Scotch College when the tollway was last expanded in the 1990’s. At that time, Scotch was required to contribute a large amount of money for better noise barriers than Transurban originally planned.

Transurban have also agreed to construct sound barriers across the Glenferrie Road overpass and along H.A. Smith Reserve.

Traffic Volume To Double

However the doubling of the volume of traffic on the widened roadway means that Scotch will need enhanced protection from the increase in noise. Vicroads noise standards for educational institutions are higher than those Transurban has agreed to implement. This is not acceptable to Scotch.

Scotch College is examining all means available to ensure Transurban/CityLink meets higher noise protection standards around the School.

The widening will involve the compulsory acquisition of a substantial strip of land on the southern boundary of Scotch College’s campus. The school recently received the formal notice of intention to acquire by compulsory acquisition.

College Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson, said it was most unfortunate that Scotch was again facing the loss of a substantial parcel of land, but it was now of paramount importance to ensure the interests of the College were protected.

Protection of Scotch’s Best Interests Is Vital

A committee of the College council, chaired by parent Dr David Kemp, is preparing detailed plans on a range of issues to ensure Scotch College achieves the best possible outcomes in the tollway widening.

The school is determined to make sure the tollway widening has the least possible impact on the operations, environment and amenity of the College, both during construction and when the expanded road is in operation.

Minimising traffic noise affecting the school site is a central issue, as noise levels in classrooms significantly affect the quality of education that can be provided.

Matters to be resolved include:

• Transurban/CityLink´s recognition of the acoustic measurement standard to be applied in designing the noise barrier around the School;
• Design features of the new noise wall to be built to meet the required acoustic standard; (specifically, average and maximum height, construction materials and aesthetics, etc), and
• The School´s need for enhanced noise walls to be built to protect school facilities, particularly near the Yarra River.

Scotch College and Transurban/CityLink remain in dispute over the maximum noise levels that should be permitted to affect the College campus when the expanded roadway is in operation.

Noise Protection Needed For Boarding Houses and Pavilion

As well as the noise levels affecting the main parts of the school, Scotch is determined to ensure maximum possible noise protection for the eastern and western ends of the site to protect the boarding houses to the east and the Cardinal Pavilion and proposed new Science Block to the west.

Transurban/CityLink is expected to provide Scotch with further information about its noise reduction plans before the end of May.

School Council and Management of the School will continue to negotiate on these matters and a range of other issues with Transurban/CityLink, the Victorian Government and VicRoads during coming months.