Box Hill North residents face the reality of 10-metre tall noise reduction walls

The proposed Eastern Freeway upgrade works would include the installation of 3.5 kilometres of new noise walls from six to 10 metres tall.

Matthew Sims
October 20, 2025

Residents in Box Hill North’s Eram Road are already coping with heavy noise from nearby Eastern Freeway upgrade works.

Now, Whitehorse Council has led the push against proposed 10-metre-tall noise walls that will be built near their homes, with one councillor warning they could block sunlight and reduce residents’ solar power generation.

❓What happened: As part of the Eastern Freeway upgrades, roads are set to widen to up to 20 lanes in some locations.

In order to reduce noise levels in nearby residential areas, the project team has outlined plans to deliver 3.5 kilometres of new noise barriers, alongside about five kilometres of sound walls already built.
Major works are set to begin next year and finish in 2028.

🔊Noise reduction: Major Road Projects Victoria says new and existing noise barriers will ensure sound levels stay under 63 decibels by day and 58 at night.

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Members of the Manningham community have complained about noise, dust and pollution.

😡Council concerns: Whitehorse councillor Blair Barker said the lack of site-specific details had left Eram Road residents uncertain about how much of their property would be blocked from the sun.

🗣️“A number of these people have got fantastic vegetable gardens, they’ve got chooks, they’ve got solar panels,” said Barker.

📒Changing plans: At last week’s council meeting, councillors endorsed a submission to a draft plan outlining proposed works in between Tram Road and Springvale Road.

Proposed amendments included upgrading the Koonung Creek Trail in its entirety and the provision of further information on the overshadowing caused by the new noise walls.

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SRL East is the first stage of the project being delivered from Cheltenham to Box Hill.

🛑Works ongoing: The $26 billion North East Link project will include the construction of two 6.5-kilometre tunnels between Watsonia and Bulleen, while the Eastern Freeway upgrades will widen parts of the road to up to 20 lanes.

The Eastern Package alone includes 1.6 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, two new bridges at Eram Road and Koonung Creek, 3.5 kilometres of new noise walls, and over 2,000 trees and one million plants.