4C ‘pledge’ in boost for rally

Kim Waters
A COALITION promise to “reconsider” the route of a controversial bypass extension south of Geelong has buoyed protesters ahead of a public rally this weekend, according to organisers.
Liberal candidate for South Barwon Andrew Katos said he would address the rally to “affirm” the review of stage 4C of the bypass if the coalition won next month’s state election.
“If we’re elected in November we will review the alignment of the road, the process and the consultation procedure,” said Mr Katos, a Geelong councillor.
“We aren’t necessarily opposed to the road but there has obviously been an error or a flaw that needs to be corrected or this will end up like the Barwon Heads Bridge situation.”
State ministers Tim Pallas and Justin Madden announced last Friday planning approval for the $76.9 million bypass link to Surf Coast Highway. Residents of Grovedale and Waurn Ponds have opposed the route over noise and traffic concerns.
The 4C route runs along a rail line neighbouring homes in both suburbs.
Mr Katos said moving the route was “a possibility”, although his main focus was on residents’ concerns about the route’s consultation process.
“The whole point is that the consultation process was denied to residents and that’s the fundamental thing that they have been telling us. They’ve been denied that chance and they need the opportunity.”
South Grovedale Community Action Group spokesperson Margarita Kumnik said the group had started an online poll to record how many residents would change their votes over the route issue.
“A lot of people have commented that they’re willing to change their vote to support a government that would do something about this,” she said.
“We’ve also got a 1100-person petition and after the rally we’ll probably start organising stalls in shopping centres to collect more signatures.”
Ms Kumnik hoped her committee would gain a “clear picture” at the rally of what candidates would offer in the lead-up to the election.
“We’ve invited 19 sitting members and candidates along and they’ll all have the chance to speak,” she said.
“We also want a clearer picture of how many people are against the current bypass route. If only 20 people turn up, well, I don’t want to say we’d give up but there isn’t much we can do without a lot of support.”
The rally starts at 1pm Sunday at 121 Bickford Road, Grovedale.