HORSHAM council has questioned a lack of consistency in government reports about a proposed city bypass.
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Council endorsed its bypass submission to VicRoads at a meeting on Monday night.
The submission includes how a bypass would affect travelling distances, highway connections, farming operations, noise, flooding and businesses.
Council supports a bypass, but has recognised all route options would adversely affect different people.
Council has not identified a preferred alignment.
Cr David Grimble said he went through reports and maps for options B2 and D that VicRoads had made available as part of the planning scheme phase.
People can make submissions to support or oppose the Planning Scheme Amendment for the bypass until August 14.
“There were a couple of things I picked out, including the impacts on floodplains. That’s a hot topic with our community,” Cr Grimble said.
“The hydrology impact rates as neutral across all the options. That can’t possibly be, because of the fact there’s a large range of flood mitigation across all options.
“The other one I draw attention to is Horsham Aerodrome. It says the impacts on the aerodrome across all the options are neutral.
“That can’t be possible because both 5a and the southern route don’t go anywhere near the aerodrome, and B2 goes on the eastern side of the aerodrome.
“What I have heard consistently from the community since 2008-09 is ‘the devil in the detail’. That is something council needs to address.
“I thank John Martin for council’s submission because it does pick up some of those inconsistencies.”
Mayor Mark Radford said the documents could be interpreted in different ways.
“That can be frustrating reading it,” he said.
“There are some things in the report that aren’t too crash hot.
“Council should stick its head up and have something to say.”
Council will include its intention to provide supplementary information on some of the issues raised in the submission in its cover letter to VicRoads.
VicRoads regional director Ewen Nevett said the authority had liaised with council throughout the planning process and was aware of issues being raised.
“We look forward to receiving council's submission. We encourage any interested party to view the amendment documentation at the Horsham council and Horsham VicRoads offices, or online at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website,” he said.
Mr Nevett said people could make a submission about the planning amendment by writing to Regional director, VicRoads Western Region, PO Box 580, Ballarat, Victoria, 3353.
“Submissions must include the submitter’s name and contact address, clearly stating the grounds on which the amendment is supported or opposed and indicating what changes, if any, the submitter wishes to make,” he said.
