Scotch College

CityLink Tollway Widening

Before: Proposed tollway area bordering the Melville Oval

After: Tollway area bordering the Melville Oval

In 2006 Transurban/CityLink gave notice that they would compulsorily acquire land on the southern edge of the Hawthorn campus to enable widening of the CityLink Tollway. Since construction of the original South-East Freeway in the 1960’s Scotch had suffered a loss of land and amenity on two earlier occasions. This third loss of land to the road was again unwelcome and Transurban’s advice received at the time presented the School Council with a significant threat to the ongoing operation of the School.

In response, the School Council sought to ensure the Tollway widening had the least possible impact on the operations, environment and amenity of the College, both during construction and when the widened road became operational. In addition to the loss of land in this widening, a number of operational, environmental and amenity impacts remain subject to assessment and resolution as part of the School’s claim for adequate compensation.

Originally due for completion in 2009, Transurban’s construction contractors finally vacated the School’s land in December 2011. The School’s claim for adequate compensation of loss and ongoing occupancy during construction is scheduled to be heard in the Victorian Supreme Court from 2012.

The School Council has kept the Scotch community informed of issues in regard to the Tollway matter by Tollway Newsletters and through columns in Great Scot, the Scotch community magazine. Archival copies of the dedicated newsletters are provided, along with links to Great Scot columns published.