Air Quality & West Gate Tunnel Project

For the latest updates and detour information visit West Gate Tunnel Disruptions Page

You can subscribe to WGTP to get weekly updates via email or by joining the group on facebook.

WGTP thanks you for your patience as important works are carried out. For more info check out the Big Build Disruptions page.

Other WGTP news can be found at Tunnel Tracker.

The $10 million West Gate Neighbourhood Fund supports inner west communities during tunnel construction. It prioritises currently affected areas now.

The last partnership funding round has closed, for updates check WGNF site in October.

Please note that this is not a Council-run grants program, all enquiries should be directed to the West Gate Tunnel Authority: grants@wgta.vic.gov.au

Successful grants from round three

There were 22 successful round three community grants across Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong with a total value of $499,765. Twelve are in Hobsons Bay, totaling $314,072: 

• The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre (HBWC) will hold an open day in October 2023 for World Mental Health Day ($20,000)
• Edge to Edge Laverton is Western Edge’s Community Youth Theatre performance 2023 series ($20,000)
• Rotary Club of Williamstown and Dads of Newport & Newport Scouts will host a 2023 Halloween Party in the Park ($12,436)
• Wynspeak Hobsons Bay 2023 will host a Youth Public Speaking Competition ($2,200)
• Association Islamic Dakwah in Australia will buy four table tennis tables to provide social recreational activity and improve community connectedness ($5,678)
• Altona Miniature Railway, new passenger carriages means more rides for the community ($10,000)
• Melbourne City Soccer Club Junior Female Football Initiative ($9,500)
• U3A Altona gets new classroom equipment, a smart TV and laptop ($3,940)
• Brooklyn Residents Action Group will install artwork along the Kororoit Creek shared trail ($98,400)
• Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek will revitalise the 1880s heritage listed unique blue stone bridge ($86,100)
• Williamstown Community and Education Centre (WCEC) will establish a new computer training room at Altona North Community House (ANCH) ($23,810)
• Friends of Newport Lakes received funds for water quality monitoring equipment & training volunteers to report water quality and a small native flowering program ($22,008)

All of these grants will be administered by West Gate Neighbourhood Fund. Contact the grants team with any enquiries: grants@wgta.vic.gov.au

Grants supported by West Gate Neighbourhood Fund:

• Deakin temporary arts: www.treatment3.org.au

• Slow Food Farmers Market: Urban harvest website and food workshops late 2023 More info

• Laverton Bowls Club community garden More info

Successful grants from round one

See details of successful Round 1 partnerships: more info

A CLG has been established by WGTP MTIA as an avenue for community involvement during the construction/delivery phase of the West Gate Tunnel Project to contribute to the WGTP by:

• encouraging a broad range of community representatives from geographic areas to participate in discussions for the project

• providing a regular and direct avenue of communication between local communities and the project team to understand what is happening during construction

• providing a local perspective particularly in relation to minimising impacts on local communities

• allowing stakeholders to appreciate each other’s views to the benefit of the project

• sharing local information, and helping support community engagement activities relating to the project

Further information and local CLG member representatives can be found here.

Following the release of the Minister's assessment, the Victorian Government partnered with HBCC Council to fund capital improvements to its recreation reserves and facilities up to the value of $5 million on appropriate projects.

In February 2018, Council endorsed a Sports and Open Space Enhancement and Access Capital Improvement Program for the following areas:

• Brooklyn

• Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood

• WLJ Crofts Reserve, Altona North

In response to the WGTP and possible transport impacts on Hobsons Bay, the Department of Transport (DoT), in partnership with Council, led the HBTPS to identify transport impacts and issues, and to develop a network challenges and opportunities report. In addition, Council has developed Local Area Movement Plans (LAMPs) for Brooklyn, Altona North, Spotswood, South Kingsville and Williamstown North, consistent with the objectives of the HBTPS and Council’s Integrated Transport Plan.

The WGTP provides monthly air quality monitoring reports on the Project website.

The Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group (CRG), established by the Victorian Government as an outcome of the WGTP EES to investigate air pollution in Melbourne’s inner west, has released its report – Air Pollution in Melbourne’s Inner West – Taking direct action to reduce our community’s exposure with 26 recommendations and 65 supporting actions designed to:

• reduce air pollution from road transport and industry (including the West Gate Tunnel Project)
• improve the planning framework, government regulation and policy, air quality monitoring and community education

The report can be found here