Bypass plans for the heart Buninyong

BY CAROL SAFFER

SHADOW Minister for Roads and Infrastructure David Hodgett has announced a $2 million commitment by the Coalition for planning and preparation works for a Buninyong bypass.

Mr Hodgett said this announcement is a gamechanger, it is clearly what the community wants.

“This money will go a long way towards consulting with community, preparation, planning, and design so we can come back and deliver this project and give Buninyong the bypass it needs.”

Liberal candidate for Buninyong Andrew Kilmartin said for him this is the greatest day of the campaign so far.

“I have door knocked every single house in the community of Buninyong and this issue came up time and time again,” said Mr Kilmartin.

Mr Kilmartin said apart from traffic congestion and safety the main concern is the village atmosphere.

“Having a big highway down the middle of it cuts it in half,” said Mr Kilmartin.

Buninyong and District Community Association president Gayle Adams said they have been advocating for the bypass for more than 10 years.

Ms Adams said the Midlands Highway creates two villages with people either living on one side or the other.

“We want to see it easy for people to live in one village,” she said.

Ms Adams said while the community has been wanting this for quite some time they realise this is a long-term plan.

Mr Hodgett said while it is important that things are done properly, “We don’t want to be here in four-years time saying Buninyong still needs a bypass.”

“I would think we can move very quickly on getting the planning preparation work done, consult with VicRoads so I would expect within the first 6-12 months we would have a plan up.”