The missing link choking Geelong’s south

RESERVE Road and Boundary Road are doing it tough. It’s the number one complaint to hit my inbox.

As Armstrong Creek booms, these local roads are being used as major thoroughfares, something they were never designed for.

We desperately need our state roads to keep pace with our rapid population growth.

The local growth area, including Armstrong Creek, Charlemont and Mount Duneed, is the fastest growing part of Geelong and will one day be home to up to 65,000 people.

That’s roughly double its current population.

This is why I’m advocating for state government funding for stage 1 of the critical Bellarine Link extension of the Geelong Ring Road through Armstrong Creek and Charlemont.

Stage 1 would extend the Ring Road via Baanip Boulevard from the Surf Coast Highway to Barwon Heads Road, making it quicker and easier for local residents to travel between home, school and work.

The extension, which is an advocacy priority project for council, would upgrade Reserve Road east of the rail line, while realigning the western side and removing the level crossing.

This would reduce traffic and get trucks off Reserve Road and Boundary Road, which have become busy east-west thoroughfares and heavy vehicle routes in the absence of this much-needed extension.

The extension would reduce wear and tear on these local roads, which are not designed to deal with this heavy traffic, by providing a better route for trucks and the bulk of local traffic.

And it’s clear the overwhelming majority of our community want this upgrade.

In a 2021 community survey by Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV), 91 per cent of respondents said they supported the project.

MRPV also completed planning work including traffic modelling, social studies and environmental investigations along with a business case for the project.

But neither the state government nor the opposition have committed funding to this project. I think now is the time to change that.

This is only the first stage of a transformative infrastructure project that would deliver significant benefits for our entire region.

A completed Bellarine Link would extend to the Bellarine Highway and Portarlington Road, cutting travel times between the Geelong Ring Road and parts of the Bellarine Peninsula by up to 15 minutes.

It would also provide a dedicated route for freight vehicles, allowing trucks to bypass central Geelong on their way to the Bellarine Peninsula.

That means fewer trucks on roads such as Ryrie Street and less congestion in the heart of our city.

Projects of this scale take time. The Geelong Ring Road itself was delivered in stages over seven years, with the final section opening in 2013.

But its impact on our region has been undeniable, improving connectivity, reducing travel times and supporting economic growth across Greater Geelong.

Almost 60,000 vehicles use the Geelong Ring Road each day, including several thousand trucks.

Imagine how congested central Geelong would be if these vehicles were still forced to travel through the heart of our city via Melbourne Road, Latrobe Terrace and Settlement Road!

The planning for stage 1 of the Bellarine Link has been done. The community has shown its support. Now we need state government to take the next step.

With the Victorian election approaching in November, I urge all candidates for our local seat of South Barwon to commit to progressing the Bellarine Link.

As Charlemont ward councillor, I will continue advocating on behalf of our community to ensure this critical project gets the funding and commitment it deserves.

Cr Emma Sinclair

Charlemont ward,

City of Greater Geelong