Bypass options

VICROADS may announce its preferred route for the long-awaited Kooweerup Bypass within the next two months.
Bass MP Ken Smith said he had been told an announcement would be made by the end of August.
A spokesman for Roads Minister Tim Pallas said VicRoads was working to release a proposed alignment as soon as possible, but didn’t give a timeframe.
Mr Smith said the news was delivered at a recent meeting with Roads Minister Tim Pallas and VicRoads representatives to discuss the progress of road and highway projects in the Bass electorate.
“While this, to a certain degree is good news, a final decision is yet to be made,” he said.
“Once an option is announced, it still has to go through the public consultation process and possibly an environmental effects study, be approved by the minister and provided for in the budget. We are still looking at least 18 months to 30 months before work begins.”
There are about 20 properties earmarked along two proposed routes, with some affected by both overlays.
In January, Kooweerup residents said those properties were virtually worthless until a decision was made as to where the bypass would go.
Mr Smith said other issues at the meeting included the Bass Highway duplication, the long-term plan to upgrade the Kooweerup-Pakenham Road into a highway, effects of heavy traffic on the roads during the construction of the desalination plant and road maintenance programs.