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Kilmore Bypass advocacy efforts begin

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Jordyn Grubisic
Jordyn Grubisic
Jordyn Grubisic is a senior journalist for the North Central Review primarily covering politics at all levels and sport with a particular interest in basketball. Since 2019 she has worked for several publications across Victoria including most recently at the Alexandra Standard and Yea Chronicle. She is always keen to hear from local community members about issues they face and has an interest in crime and court reporting.

Mitchell Shire Council will advocate for an independent Kilmore Bypass committee for community members to raise questions, queries and concerns.

All councillors – except Cr Bill Chisholm who abstained – voted to advocate to the Planning Minister for an independent planning panel or committee, and for additional bypass route information.

Cr Nathan Clark said the submission allowed council to advocate for the community while not hindering bypass progress.

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“I’m certainly not going to be the one that stands in the way of the progress of the bypass. It’s something the community has been asking for, for a very long time,” he said.

“We need to remove the congestion caused by trucks through the centre of the town. We know at busy times it’s already busy enough already so removing all the trucks from that would certainly help.”

Council supports the Department of Transport and Planning’s, DTP, decision to align the bypass between Willowmavin Road and Northern Highway/Wandong Road intersection however it is believed the route had limited opportunity to be reviewed and considered by council, the Kilmore community and Northern Highway road users including freight operators.

The proposed route will connect to the Northern Highway north of Kilmore via a new roundabout located on a section of the highway with known challenging conditions including steep grades.

Council’s submission additionally request DTP provide further information about the proposed roundabout’s ability for heavy vehicles to safely use it and the impact of an additional intersection on travel times along this section of the highway.

Cr Chisholm abstained from voting for the submission as he had ‘some reservations’.

“I definitely don’t want to hold up the process because it’s been well and truly held up before … but this route adds an extra roundabout to the whole process,” he said.

“Until you see costings and the details, I’m not sure that it’ll be a really effective bypass but if we have more details I could make a better decision.”

Cr Fiona Stevens said council was not going to stand in the way of progress on the longstanding, ongoing bypass issue.

“It may not be perfect but we have to keep it moving and this is just another step in that process,” she said.

“We all want to see this bypass go through to get moving on it. Let’s progress the ticking off of the boxes that we have to do but it also says we are going to seek clarification to some commitments and some items because there is a little bit of uncertainty on something.

“We will also continue to advocate to the State Government for the delivering of the Kilmore Bypass – there’d be nothing better than to one day be alive to see the shovels in the ground to start the process.”

Concerns were also raised about land acquisition being inconsistent with the Kilmore Structure Plan 2017 and three new properties affected by the proposed route, requesting landowners of those properties be afforded the opportunity to submit concerns or comments for consideration.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. wasting tax and rate payers dollars again, this has been going on for many years, lining pockets of those who continually choose not to accept one of the many plans put forward.
    David

  2. I wish they would just build the bypass. The local community interests have held back Kilmore for decades.

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