Melbourne residents frustrated by construction noise

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Some residents in Melbourne are enduring unbearable, noise, light and dust from round the clock construction works on the 16 billion dollar northeast link. They say they feel disrespected by the builder, who has offered earplugs to deal with the sound and is only offering to install mitigation measures to some residents, if they sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Transcript

00:00 Behind this suburban home on a quiet cul-de-sac, there's round-the-clock construction.

00:06 As you can see, it is at my doorstep.

00:09 The din, the noise, really is unsettling.

00:15 It's constant.

00:16 It is really quite disturbing.

00:18 Concurratis is one of dozens of Bulleen locals whose property is back onto the site of the

00:22 early works for the $16 billion North East Link.

00:26 Police supports the project, but wants the builder to work with locals to minimise the

00:30 noise.

00:31 All he was offered was earplugs.

00:33 Being offered earplugs was a little bit of a slap in the face.

00:36 The builder, Spark, has offered to put a noise treatment on some windows, but only if residents

00:41 sign a non-disclosure agreement.

00:44 Non-disclosure agreements are completely disgraceful.

00:47 They are bullying, they're harassment, and sadly, they're pretty much a good example

00:54 of how this government operates.

00:55 No one's asking for a palace on the Gold Coast.

00:59 They're asking to stay in their own home and have the windows double glazed and with no

01:03 conditions.

01:04 We've had 800 interactions with residents in the Bulleen area.

01:08 We've got 10 notifications in the last few months.

01:11 We do door knocking, we try and talk to them.

01:12 If they feel disrespected, then that's a concern to me.

01:16 As you can hear, it's loud during the day as well.

01:18 Right now, it's about 80 decibels, which over time can be bad for your hearing.

01:23 And this is just the early works.

01:25 This project has at least another five years to run, with tunnelling to begin next year.

01:29 And it's that prospect of protracted disruptions that has residents digging in for a fairer

01:35 go.

01:36 Valento Di Felice installed rollers on his windows as he was so tired of the noise and

01:41 dust.

01:42 He paid $7,000.

01:43 He'd also been offered earplugs.

01:45 Inside the house, we can't walk around with earplugs 24/7.

01:50 And they said, well, just grin and bear it, it'll be over before you know it.

01:54 And it made us feel inadequate, unworthy, unrespected.

01:59 With fears the project budget may balloon beyond $16 billion, residents say they're

02:03 not asking for much.

02:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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