Nominations open for Barwon Heads Road reference group

APPLICATIONS have opened for people to have their say about the coming upgrades to Barwon Heads Road.

The Community Reference Group (CRG) is looking for individuals with strong ties to the local area to represent their community, and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman has called for interested people to submit their expressions of interest.

The CRG will work directly with the Major Road Projects Victoria team throughout the construction phase of the Barwon Heads Road duplication, providing advice on community concerns, ensuring a broad range of community perspectives are considered, and sharing project information and updates with their networks.

Initial public consultation has found the local community wants to see the natural environment protected, improvements made to the active transport network and enhancement to the local landscape.

The CRG will provide a forum for feedback on the construction phase of the project, to help develop the best outcomes for the project and the wider community.

The Barwon Heads Road upgrade will get under way in the middle of this year, and will help support journeys in Victoria’s fastest growing region.

The project is expected to be completed in 2023.

It will add new lanes between Settlement Road and Reserve Road, remove a level crossing at Marshall, and make journeys smoother and safer on this busy route.

The project will also create more than 500 jobs during construction along the Bellarine, while the flow-on benefits includes an additional 1,400 jobs in support industries such as freight and tourism.

“We are building the Barwon Heads Road upgrade for the locals, so we’re interested to work closely with the community as we build this project,” Mr Cheeseman said.

“Having a Community Reference Group will mean local knowledge and community concerns are heard and will help inform decisions made by the MRPV project team about the project.

“This upgrade will make a real difference for decades to come to both local families and tourists who visit our Bellarine Peninsula during the
summer months.”

CRG members will be engaged for 18 months and meet on a bi-monthly basis.

To be eligible to join the CRG, people must be either be a resident or own a property located within a 2km radius of Barwon Heads Road between Settlement Road and Reserve Road; own or work at a business located within a 2km radius of Barwon Heads Road; or participate or volunteer with a community group that has a specific interest (including an active user of the road or has a community facility) within a 2km radius of the areas surrounding Barwon Heads Road.

Nominations to the Barwon Heads Road CRG close on Sunday, April 4.

For more information on the Barwon Heads Road upgrade, read the terms of reference for the CRG, or to nominate, head to roadprojects.vic.gov.au.