Against repeated previous promises, the Victorian Government of John Brumby is trampling over community and local govenment opposition to turn Melbourne into a junior version of Los Angeles without a proper cost-benefit analysis.
Article by Kenneth Davidson, a co-editor of Dissent Magazine, originally published as "Projects built at expense of community" in the Melbourne Age of 15 Feb 10.
"VicRoads should hand over the land to Moreland City Council free-of charge on the proviso that it will be maintained as public open space." (Kelvin Thomson) Growth-lobby-friendly VicRoads claims it must sell 10 ha of rare riparian land in overpopulated and traffic-choked Coburg at market value under State Government policy. It it does this will be yet tragic cost of unwanted population growth, driven by the Brumby Government. A Victorian Parliamentary inquiry last year found that important open space and Crown Land is often sold off to developers for the highest price, with little consideration to the long term community and environmental ramifications (Fyffe 2009). Inside find Kelvin Thompson's entire submission
As oil prices rocket above AU$140 per barrel, the Victorian Government proceeds to ram through its expensive road and tunnel building projects premised upon oil costing at most AU$24.20 per barrel against a groundswell of community opposition. Why? 
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