Acting regional director Mal Kersting said feedback from community sessions across the past three years had helped inform decisions on concept designs, including minimising impacts where possible. 

“Since the July 2017 consultation session, feedback and findings from technical and environmental assessments have led to changes to the bypass route option and concept interchange designs,” he said. 

The sessions are on Thursday between 3pm and 7pm and Saturday between 10am and 2pm at St Mary’s Parish Centre, 304 Barkly Street, Ararat. 

Mr Kersting said VicRoads was proposing a variation to the route near Warrayatkin Road and changes to the interchanges and connection points at the Pyrenees Highway. 

Some properties not originally affected by the draft plans in mid-2017 may now be impacted by these changes. 

VicRoads has contacted and is wanting to speak with these affected property owners. 

“The changes are aimed at minimising impacts on properties directly affected by the bypass at the Pyrenees Highway, maintaining where possible access to roads running north-south of the town, and protecting wildlife corridors and avoiding the loss of trees,” Mr Kersting said.

A new interactive map and feedback forms are available on the VicRoads Engage website.