LETTERBOXES in Bacchus Marsh have been hit with a petition calling for Planning Minister Matthew Guy to reverse his controversial decision to reject a roundabout in the town’s Avenue of Honour.
Mr Guy turned down the plans on Australia Day this year after protests by the Avenue Preservation Group against the VicRoads and council-endorsed roadworks, which would have seen five memorial elm trees removed.
However, a number of residents have since supported the plans.
Push Back for Woolpack president Malcolm Trask said the group was ramping up its campaign ahead of a series of VicRoads consultation sessions this week.
“We have been lobbied to do this and we’re confident we’ll get a big response. This project is the biggest can of worms I’ve seen,” Mr Trask said.
It comes as community leaders lobby VicRoads to immediately begin work on a safe exit ramp from the Western Highway and alleviate the town’s traffic woes.
Cr Michael Tudball said while the council was no longer pursuing the Woolpack Road option, it was disappointed the plan had been “knocked on the head”.
“Five years of work went into that plan. VicRoads approached council with that plan and we agreed it was the most viable option,” he said.
Cr Tudball said he was concerned the project would take another five years to complete and in that time funding could be pulled.
“I would expect, even after community consultation, that the planning acquisition process would take well over a year. Then there’s planning overlays, lobbying for funding, detailed costings, plans and actual construction.
“That exit has been shocking for a long time and it’s now compounded by more traffic, a shorter exit and trucks coming over the bridge from Hopetoun Park. Something needs to be done in the interim.”
Cr Tudball said the Hallets Way extension should be started on immediately to solve local traffic issues, as planning acquisition and costings had all been completed. “This is a solution they can work on now; they can’t just sit on their hands and plan and plan and plan.”
Avenue of Honour Preservation Group spokesman Damien Strangio said it had achieved its purpose by keeping the memorial trees intact.
He said the group had also been successful in putting the Hallets Way extension firmly on the government’s agenda.
VicRoads information sessions are at the Lerderderg library in Bacchus Marsh on Thursday from 3-5pm, Saturday from 11am-1pm, and May 22 from 4-6pm.
More details: 1800212602
