Mr KELVIN THOMSON (9:40 AM) —Since the 1970s VicRoads have planned to construct a section of freeway along the Merri Creek from Craigieburn South. This was originally intended to join the Eastern Freeway, but as a result of community outcry during the 1970s and 1980s—indeed, when I was in the Victorian state parliament I played a leading role in the deletion of the F2 freeway reservation between Bell Street and Mahoneys Road—sections of the reserve were deleted. However, the freeway reserve between Mahoneys Road and Craigieburn remains.

The reserve crosses Merri Creek three times and goes through the western basalt plains grasslands of national and state significance. In 1995 the state minister for planning announced that the proposed route of the freeway would be shifted to the east to minimise the impact on the Craigieburn grasslands. The two grasslands at Cooper Street and Craigieburn, together with the link along the creek between them, were listed on the interim register of the national estate quite recently.

Early in 1997 Victorian Minister Rob Maclellan decided that no environmental effects statement was required to investigate the environmental impact of various route alternatives. However, a ministerial advisory committee was set up under the Planning and Environment Act to hold public hearings and to consider the views of councils, government agencies, and conservation and resident groups.

Now it seems that the state government is seeking to pre-empt the results of its investigation into the proposed F2 freeway. It appears clear that the government wants to avoid looking at, for example, an upgrade of the current Hume route. Planning Minister Maclellan's advisory committee, which is investigating the routes, is apparently requesting to change its terms of reference. Of course, those terms of reference define what the committee's job is. I am concerned that the change involves dropping investigations into the impact of the upgrade to the current Hume route.

The draft flora and fauna study only examined five possible routes to the east of the Hume, whereas if the F2 goes ahead along any of these routes there would be more damage done to the Merri, to the Craigieburn, to Cooper Street grasslands and to the gorge at Barry Road, Thomastown, than through an upgrade of the current Hume route. Moreover, the fieldwork for the flora and fauna study was done at the height of last summer during a period of drought and may need to be repeated.

I am calling on the federal Minister for the Environment (Senator Hill) to implement a federal environmental impact statement, noting that the F2 is a federally funded road and several species along the proposed routes are protected under national legislation. The Merri Creek Management Committee has done a great deal of work in this area. It is a showcase, it ought to be protected and there ought to be an environmental impact statement. (Time expired)