Hope for U-turn

Final push on road plan

A BELLARINE community group has turned to the Victorian Ombudsman in a desperate bid to have an alternative Clifton SpringsCurlewis connection considered.

The Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association has raised deep concerns about the safety of a proposed new north/south connector road, which would lead to a new traffic light intersection on Portarlington Rd.

The DCSCA has offered an alternative to the proposed new connector road, which includes a roundabout at Hermsley Rd leading to an upgraded Coriyule Rd. They believe this will be a safer alternative and provide better service to the Jetty Rd growth area.

The City of Greater Geelong and VicRoads have not shown any signs of considering alternate plans.

DCSCA committee member Neil McGuinness said his association felt turning to the Ombudsman was its last chance to have their concerns heard.

“The council made this decision (to build a connector road) over 10 years ago, based on the knowledge and information available at that time,” he said.

“It should be evaluated on present safety knowledge.”

The group has challenged the council and VicRoads to conduct a comparative safety assessment on the group’s proposed alternative traffic route.

Council acting director of city services Peter Godfrey said planning and public consultation for this intersection has been going on for a decade.

“Traffic signals allow the management of a greater number of vehicles and will also provide safe pedestrian crossing,” he said

“This treatment of the intersection was part of the planning strategy for the Jetty Rd growth area and has been confirmed with several independent panel hearings.”