The Coalition of Transport Action Groups (CTAG) are holding a public rally to protest against the proposed East-West Link for Melbourne, on the steps of the Victorian Parliament on Tuesday August 20th, starting at 12.45pm.

The rally coincides with two very important events at Parliament House:

1. The presentation of the Trains Not Toll Roads Petition by City of Yarra Mayor, Jackie Fristacky to Mr Richard Wynne MLA, Member for Richmond and Acting Shadow Minister for Public Transport. (Add your name to the petition here.)

2. The second reading and debate in the Legislative Assembly (lower house) of the State Government’s Major Transport Projects Facilitation Amendment (East West Link and Other Projects) Bill 2013 will occur on this day.

According to the State Government website: “The Bill seeks to amend the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 to facilitate the East West Link project and other major transport projects by reducing procedural delays and red tape, to amend the Transport Integration Act 2010 to improve the operation of that Act and for other purposes.”

This is a crucial moment in the campaign to stop the construction of the East-West Link, which will set Melbourne on the road to increased traffic congestion and put the construction of the much-needed Doncaster Railway back by 30 years, not to mention the destruction of the parklands and communities in the Toll Road’s path.

For more information about the Trains Not Toll Roads campaign, visit the Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport.