Road to help residents now and in future, councillors say

CURRENT and potential residents are some of the reasons why a plan for a major road through Bacchus Marsh should be supported, Moorabool Shire councillors said.

A planning study has been conducted into the Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road project.

The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has nominated a preferred alignment for the road after examining a range of potential options for a future north-south route to the east of the Bacchus Marsh township.

This preferred alignment includes an eastern interchange featuring two new roundabouts to connect with the existing road network.

However, such alignment would go through a planning process at a date to be confirmed when the public could provide feedback.

Moorabool Shire mayor Cr Steve Venditti-Taylor said the proposed interchange would benefit Hopetoun Park residents.

On the Western Freeway, the suburb has one off-ramp for traffic coming from Bacchus Marsh.

“Council is advocating for a new eastern interchange for Bacchus Marsh as part of the Eastern Link Road project that would service Hopetoun Park residents,” Cr Vendetti-Taylor said.

Councillor Rod Ward said the road would allow traffic bound for Geelong or the state’s north to avoid the centre of Bacchus Marsh.

The road would also extend across the proposed Merrimu precinct, which would stretch to Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road down to Old Western Highway.

According to the Victorian Planning Authority’s website, about 8000 homes could be delivered as part of the precinct, along with education facilities, a retail centre and local parks.

Cr Ward said the proposed road would help support the town’s potential new housing in the thousands.

“The current road infrastructure cannot handle that,” Cr Ward said. “We need the Eastern Link to be built.”

Michael Bailey, the department’s executive director for Barwon South West and Grampians regions, said $3 million was invested in the Eastern Link Road’s study to improve traffic flow and safety in Bacchus Marsh.

Public consultation for the Merrimu precinct is open until Thursday 9 April at engage.vic.gov.au/Merrimu.

More information about the precinct can be found at vpa.vic.gov.au/project/merrimu.

The planned road’s study is available at transport.vic.gov.au.