Protect Yarra Bend Wildlife - Urgent Review of North East Link Works Near the Grey-headed Flying-fox Colony

Major North East Link construction is about to begin in Yarra Bend Park, with works planned as close as 50 metres from the Grey-headed Flying-fox colony. We are calling for an urgent review to protect this nationally important colony and its habitat.

North East Link is a major Victorian Government project upgrading the Eastern Freeway and building new road, bus and walking and cycling infrastructure across Melbourne's east. Part of the project includes a new walking and cycling bridge across the Yarra River and new paths through Yarra Bend.

We support better walking and cycling connections. But new infrastructure should not come at the unnecessary expense of threatened wildlife and established habitat.

What's about to happen?
North East Link has advised that major works are about to begin in Yarra Bend, including:

• removing trees and vegetation;
• building construction access and work areas for heavy machinery;
• construction vehicles and machinery;
• piling and other heavy construction;
• noise and vibration;
• dust; and construction lighting.

Some of these works will take place as close as 50 metres from the Grey-headed Flying-fox colony. The colony is nationally important and provides a home for a threatened species. The timing is particularly concerning because the colony is entering its birthing and dependent-young period.

Flying-fox mothers generally have only one pup each year. Significant disturbance during this time could place additional pressure on mothers and young at a particularly vulnerable stage.

The colony has moved since the project was assessed North East Link received Commonwealth environmental approval in 2019.

Since then, the Grey-headed Flying-fox colony has moved to a different location, bringing it much closer to areas where major construction is now planned.

We want to know whether the current location of the colony and the current construction impacts have been properly assessed.

North East Link says a qualified ecologist will oversee wildlife protection and that the colony will be monitored during construction.

We welcome this but the community needs to know what that protection actually means.

What happens if construction causes significant disturbance?
What noise and vibration levels are expected at the colony?
Who can require works to stop or change if problems occur?
Will monitoring results be made public?

We are asking for three things

1. Pause high-impact works near the colony

Pause the destruction of established habitat trees and other high-impact construction activities immediately adjacent to the colony during the birthing and dependent-young period.

2. Independently assess the current situation

Commission an independent assessment of the potential impacts of construction on the colony, including noise, vibration, lighting, machinery, vegetation removal and changes to surrounding habitat.

This assessment should consider where the colony is today, not simply where it was when the project was originally assessed.

3. Protect established habitat

Review the construction footprint and methods to identify ways to avoid unnecessary destruction and fragmentation of established wildlife habitat.

Why Yarra Bend matters
Yarra Bend is an important urban home for Grey-headed Flying-foxes.

These animals are important pollinators and seed dispersers, helping regenerate Australia's forests. Their continued presence in Yarra Bend is important for both the species and Melbourne's urban biodiversity.

This petition is not about opposing walking and cycling infrastructure.

We are asking whether the new infrastructure can be delivered while properly protecting a threatened species and avoiding unnecessary destruction of established habitat.

Major works are due to begin shortly. There is very little time to make sure the current risks have been properly considered.

Please sign and share this petition with your friends, family, community groups, wildlife organisations and local representatives.

Protect Yarra Bend's threatened wildlife and their habitat.