By Luke Voogt
South Barwon MP Andrew Katos has fought for a Charlemont family over fears they could lose their home to the Barwon Heads Road duplication.
Tracey McInnes last week told the Indy the duplication would cut into her home of 20 years after Mr Katos raised the matter in parliament.
Mr Katos asked Roads Minister Luke Donnellan why a planned eastern easement cut into the family’s home despite “ample room” to move the duplication west.
“Why, minister, do you want to destroy the McInnes’ family home when there are clearly other more sensible options?” he asked parliament on 28 March.
“It is certainly clear that the minister’s incompetents and VicRoads’ incompetents are planning the proposed duplication of Barwon Heads Road from their desktops in Kew.”
Mr Katos raised the question twice again in parliament last month after it remained unanswered.
In his response Mr Donnellan declined to address Ms McInnes’ concerns but said VicRoads had received “valuable” feedback from businesses and the community during consultation in December 2017.
“This feedback will support the continued development and planning for this project.“
VicRoads had made no final decision on the design of the duplication, Mr Donnellan said.
“VicRoads will work with the community as it completes these investigations and expects to present an updated design later this year.”
Any plans for the duplication would be in accordance with Geelong council’s 2010 Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Plan and other plans for the area, he added.
