Kim Waters
RESIDENTS fighting the proposed route of a bypass link south of Geelong have collected 1300 signatures on a petition backing their campaign, according to a spokesperson.
South Grovedale Community Action Group’s Margarita Kumnik said 140 respondents to an online poll had also promised to change their votes over the route of the stage 4C link to Surf Coast Highway.
“A lot of people have commented that they’re willing to change their vote to support a government that would do something about this,” Ms Kumnick said.
The 4C route runs through the seat of South Barwon, which Labor’s Michael Crutchfield holds with a margin of 2.3 per cent.
Ms Kumnik said residents also planned a second rally against the 4C link this weekend.
She believed the action group was having success trying to ensure voters were “informed” about the 4C.
Residents living near the 4C route in Grovedale and Waurn Ponds have opposed the link on noise and traffic grounds.
MP Michael Crutchfield has committed Labor to maintaining the route but Liberal candidate Andrew Katos has promised a review if the coalition wins the state election on November 27.
Mr Katos also promised to correct an “obvious flaw” in public consultations that culminated in the route’s alignment.
Mr Crutchfield called the review pledge “utter madness”, saying a coalition government would never deliver a new 4C route.
He labelled the link as essential infrastructure for the delivery of facilities including a new rail station at Waurn Ponds.