North East Link (NEL): Stakeholders, Tensions, and Conflict Management in Melbourne's Orbital Freeway Project

Overview
The North East Link (NEL) is a proposed project that aims to complete the
missing link in Melbourne’s orbital freeway by connecting the M80 ring road to
the Eastern Freeway/Eastlink. It aims to reduce travel times, remove non-local
traffic, increase reliability and improve traffic flow. The $11.1 billion primary
package has been secured and is expected to be delivered as an ‘availability-
based’ Public Private Partnership. The primary package scope includes twin,
three lane tunnels, Melbourne’s first dedicated busway, and extensive walking
and cycling infrastructure to form a new North East Trail network. The contract
for the primary package was awarded to Spark Consortium with the project’s
construction commencing in 2021 and expected to be completed by 2028. The
Spark Consortium comprises WeBuild, GS Engineering and Construction, CPB
Contractors, China Construction Oceania, Ventia, Capella Capital, John Laing
Investments, DIF and Pacific Partnerships.
Stakeholders
Victorian State Government
The Victorian government is a key stakeholder by being a signatory to the
Project Deed and controlling major decision making relating to the
construction, operation and funding of the NEL project. The Victorian
government has significant responsibility over the outcome of the project by
influencing its construction stages thus being liable for their decisions. The key
state parties also includes NELP which is related to the department of
transport and is responsible for the procurement and delivery of the NEL
project. The State Tolling Corporation, the Department of Transport and
Transport for Victoria are also key state stakeholders.
Local Residents and Business Owners
The construction of the North East Link project will involve local residents
enduring the consequences of construction for many years such as being
subjected to the local construction noise, the sound of countless trucks passing
homes daily and areas being inaccessible as they have been closed off due to
the construction project. Local residents will also have to accept the benefits
and disadvantages of the outcome of this project. Similarly, local business
owners will also be affected by the NEL construction project. To assist this
stakeholder group, the Victorian government has provided a toll-free 1800