By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
BELLARINE Peninsula traffic woes are set to play a role in the state election amid pressure from Ocean Grove and Drysdale lobby groups.
Ocean Grove Community Association will raise eight traffic issues with Bellarine’s Labor MP Lisa Neville and Liberal challenger Ron Nelson.
Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association has raised a number of traffic issues this year, including a bypass proposal and congestion at the town’s main roundabout.
Ocean Grove association secretary Michael Harbour said the group urgently wanted traffic signals at several intersections because they had become increasingly busy.
Mr Harbour said the intersections of Tuckfield St and Marlin Dve, Shell Rd and Surfside Centre and Presidents Ave and Orton St had been identified.
He said development of Shell Road Reserve with an aquatic centre, Surfside facility, netball courts, a skate park and a proposed sports pavilion along with schools meant traffic conditions were “becoming increasingly dangerous”.
The association also wanted speed limit reductions of 10km/h on sections of several streets, including Presidents Ave and Wallington Rd.
Mr Harbour said the association supported the duplication of Grubb Rd because of “the rapid growth” of its Oakdene and Kingston estates and forthcoming shopping centre.
The association suggested a possible two-storey car park in the town’s main car park area and refusal of future developments if they sought to waive more than 10 per cent of car parking spaces.
Mr Harbour said heavy vehicles should be restricted from using Dare St as a thoroughfare.
A public transport strategy for the peninsula could include a feasibility study for a light rail service along the Bellarine Hwy, he said.
“The route could be from Geelong Railway Station to South Geelong Railway Station along the rail trail to the Bellarine Hwy and then to Pt Lonsdale. There could be bus interchanges at Pt Lonsdale, Grubb Road, Leopold and Moolap feeding into the light rail service, with services running every 15 minutes in peak hour.”
Mr Harbour said the association would continue to lobby for the extension of Geelong’s ring road to Bellarine Hwy and Portarlington Rd.
