MPs oppose $60m bypass

By Ed Merrison
STATE Government MPs have confirmed their opposition to a bypass for Belgrave on the grounds of visual and environmental impact and ‘incredible cost’.
In a joint statement released yesterday, Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato and Monbulk MP James Merlino said people needed to understand that what was being discussed was not a ‘minor road deviation’ but rather ‘a Los Angeles-style freeway overpass’.
“The proposal investigated by VicRoads in 2000 included a one-kilometre structure, rising to seven metres at its lowest point and 14 metres at its highest.
“The preliminary cost estimate in 2000 of $22 million was not considered economically viable by VicRoads.
“We now understand the cost of this project could be as high as $60 million,” they said.
Ms Lobato and Mr Merlino said in addition to the cost, they also had concerns about the environmental and visual impact of such a construction and the financial impact on local traders.
“In the original study, no consideration was given to any of the environmental, social or business impacts which we believe are essential matters to take into account,” they said.
Ms Lobato and Mr Merlino said they were aware of traffic concerns in Belgrave, particularly during peak periods, and that VicRoads was currently investigating possible improvements to traffic flow.
“If there are millions of dollars of guaranteed federal funding available, local residents may well prefer this be spent on improving and sealing local roads in the area,” they said.
Their comments came during a week when the Shire of Yarra Ranges confirmed it would pursue funding for a feasibility study into possible solutions to congestion in Belgrave.
Shire community relations manager James Martin said the council would lodge its application for the Federal Government funds by a May deadline.
The application would be for $10 million from the Auslink program for a strategic road project, a portion of which would go towards finding a solution with the remaining money set aside for its implementation.
Mr Martin said the council and community needed to look at the various alternatives to give an idea of what proposed solutions would look like.
“Any solution needs to be acceptable to Belgrave and the wider Hills community,” he said.
Mr Martin said if successful in securing funding, the shire would oversee the feasibility study, but would seek the advice of VicRoads before engaging consultants.
“Clearly we would not have the internal expertise to undertake a feasibility study of this magnitude,” he said.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood reiterated the need for a bipartisan approach to funding between State and Federal Governments, but expressed a concern that this was another in a series of regional transport issues the State Government was not supporting because it was ‘too hard and difficult’.
“This is the thing about politics: things are hard and difficult, but that doesn’t mean you walk away from them,” he said.