In August 2022, Banyule City Council, in response to The North East Link Authority’s trench design for the northern section of the North East Link (between Watsonia Road and the M80 Ring Road), commenced a Lid the Link campaign. The campaign proposed an alternative design that would:

• create a green bridge over a grey trench
• help keep businesses open and our community thriving
• create more than three hectares of land that in years to come can be used to create the places and spaces our community needs and deserves
• boost accessibility and access between Watsonia Village, the train station and the car park.

The Lid the Link campaign had it's own website LidtheLink.com and showed the original and alternative designs. It also gave the community an opportunity to show their support.

In August 2022 we asked for your support to back Council's advocacy plan for a green lid over North East Link through:

• the Lid the link website (LidtheLink.com)
• postcards and poster distributed in and around Watsonia shops in August, September, October and November 2022
• ABC radio interview with the Mayor in August 2022
• a 4-page wrap in the Banyule Banner
• social media promotions through Facebook.

We received 206 submissions via the postcard and 1667 submissions through the Lid the Link website in support of the lid.

A full analysis of your responses can be found in the findings report.

The 4 most common themes identified in community feedback were:

Some of the comments left on the lid the link website in response to these themes included: