| MEDIA RELEASE June 28, 2012
Council narrows Colac bypass options down to three
Colac Otway Shire Council will have investigations carried out on three options for a bypass around Colac - a route north of Lake Colac, across Lake Colac, and an outer southern route.
Investigations into each route will take place between now and Council elections.
A formal community consultation process will take place once a new Council is elected at the end of October, after Councillors have had time to consider a report on the three options.
At its June meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Council eliminated the inner southern route, which may have passed residential homes if it went ahead, and the rail corridor route, which was ruled out following discussions with VicTrack.
Mayor Stephen Hart said it would be up to the next Council to decide the final preferred route, in consultation with the community.
“Council’s consultant for this project will now examine all three routes in more detail, looking at things such as cost, transport needs, environmental and social impacts.
“Up until this point, we have looked at broad corridors for a bypass up to a kilometre wide, and it will be the consultant’s job to pinpoint more accurately where these routes would be located.
“More detailed information will be collated between now and the local government elections, to enable the newly-elected Council to lead the next community consultation process.”
Cr Hart said Council would work with VicRoads to identify short-term measures that would help reduce the impact of heavy vehicles using Murray Street.
“The duplicated Princes Highway will be upon us by 2016-17, and the time has come when we must put a line on a map.
“This Council has narrowed the options down to three, and the next Council will decide on the ultimate route.
“Council needs to be in a position to start lobbying State and Federal governments for the funding for a bypass, so that construction can start as soon as possible after the highway duplication to Colac is complete.”
A description of the three preferred bypass routes is below. Please note that the exact locations of these routes will be subject to further investigation.
Northern route
A route north of Lake Colac connecting to the Princes Highway at either end of Colac. This proposed route would consist primarily of new carriageway.
Lake route
A route across Lake Colac connecting to the Princes Highway at either end of Colac. A causeway or bridge would be required across Lake Colac, with the remaining sections to be constructed along existing roads and reserves, or by creating new carriageways.
Outer southern route
A route connecting to the Princes Highway at Swan Marsh Road to the west, and the Warncoort-Birregurra Road to the east. This route would go as far south as the intersection of Skinners and Irrewillipe roads, and would be a new carriageway for its entire length.
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