HORSHAM and district residents will have their final chance to have a say on the city’s proposed bypass routes when two alignment plans are released next week.
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VicRoads has urged community members to have their say on the controversial project when the public consultation period for options B2 and D opens on Monday.
The plans will go on show at two locations in Horsham, followed by an information session in the city on Wednesday next week.
It comes after One Horsham bypass group urged the state government to help it get options 2 and 5a back on the table. The group is advocating for option 2, which leaves the Western Highway at Dock Lake Recreation Reserve to the south-east of Horsham and bypasses Pimpinio to the north-west.
Options B2 and D bypass Horsham to the north-east.
VicRoads regional director Ewen Nevett said plans, reports and associated documents would be on display until August 14 as part of the planning scheme amendment process.
“The public exhibition period is one of the final steps in reserving land required for a future Horsham bypass in the Horsham Planning Scheme,” he said.
“Now is the time for people to review all the documentation, get a clear understanding of VicRoads’ proposal and make a formal submission either supporting or opposing the planning scheme amendment.”
Mr Nevett said the authority would review all submissions. “If a solution can’t be reached, the planning minister will appoint an independent panel that submitters can make their case to,” he said.
“The independent panel will then make recommendations based on the submissions received.”
Mr Nevett said state and federal governments had funded bypass planning as part of a $50-million Western Highway upgrade between Stawell and the South Australian border. There is no funding allocated for bypass construction.
Mr Nevett said the information session would be at the Wimmera Trade Training Centre’s Horsham College campus from 3pm to 7pm.
Bypass plans will be on show at the VicRoads Horsham office in O’Callaghan Parade, and at Horsham Civic Centre in Roberts Avenue.
They will also be available on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website.
