THE Horsham truck bypass route’s impact on the aerodrome is a significant issue, Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne reportedly told Horsham Rural City Council.
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On Monday, Horsham Rural City councillors accepted a report on meetings held between state government minsters and a council delegation last month.
Horsham Council Mayor Pam Clarke said the meeting with Mr Wynne had been productive.
The delegation included Cr Clarke, Cr David Grimble, Horsham council chief executive Peter Brown and technical services director John Martin.
As agreed to in a separate prior motion, the meetings covered Horsham council’s concerns about bypass route option D and the potential impact on Horsham Aerodrome and the floodplains.
The delegation met with Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan on February 23.
According to Mr Martin’s report on the meeting, Mr Donnellan asked Horsham council for a preference on the bypass to inform the government’s decision making.
“He would meet with VicRoads to discuss Horsham council’s request for VicRoads to undertake further planning work, and the funding of that work, and respond to Horsham council within about three weeks,” Mr Martin stated.
Late last year, VicRoads asked Mr Wynne to approve a planning scheme amendment for the bypass and option D.
The delegation met with Mr Wynne on February 28.
Mr Martin’s report stated Mr Wynne considered it uncommon for a council not to have a position the bypass and urged Horsham council to take a position.
“He said ‘this would be a determining factor for him’ in his consideration of the bypass proposal,” Mr Martin stated.
According to Mr Martin, the meeting also covered the importance of Horsham council meeting with VicRoads soon to review further work that VicRoads may have done.
“Minister Wynne invited Council to meet with him again after it had further considered its position, and conveyed a sense of urgency in this regard,” Mr Martin said.
Mr Wynne said the next meeting should be within weeks rather than months but an exact time frame was not given.
Mr Martin’s report also outlined the next steps for Horsham council on the bypass issue, including a meeting with Councillors, a meeting with VicRoads, and a review the Aerodrome Master Plan and Business Plan.
Mr Wynne and Mr Donnellan have not made any comment on their recollection of the meetings.
The Victorian Farmers Federation’s 38th Annual Grains Conference in Horsham late last month also passed a motion on the Horsham bypass.
Federation delegates voted to support the key recommendation from the 2015 planning panel for VicRoads to develop an integrated transport strategy.
The parts of the strategy noted to the federation were Horsham’s transport needs and movement of farm equipment.
Delegates also called for an integrated freight link to all highways and to resolve any potential growth conflicts with the aerodrome.
Federation delegates moved that the strategy needed to be complete before the planning minister approves the planning scheme amendment.