Bypass meeting

By Kath Gannaway
A PUBLIC meeting in December will give Yarra Glen residents an opportunity to have input into the design of the proposed Yarra Glen Bypass.
The bypass has aroused recent controversy with Halina Adams, the sole landowner whose property has been earmarked for the project, calling for a change of alignment.
Ms Adams’ claim that she was not advised that the project was proceeding resulted in a petition signed by 300 people to the Minister for Roads Tim Pallis.
Another petition signed by a number of Yarra Glen main street business operators called for the dumping of the project with several expressing concern about the impact removing trucks and other through traffic will have on the businesses, other saying the proposed route will simply not work.
The issue is being taken up by the Yarra Glen Township Group, which has called a public meeting for 7 December.
YGTG spokesperson Veronica Holland said while the proposed bypass was based on a long-term commitment by the community and Vic Roads to remove the heavy traffic out of Bell Street it was a “bit of a Clayton’s bypass”.
“It is probably better than nothing and hopefully the first part of a proper one,” she said.
She said the project was intended to take most of the heavy trucks, semi-trailers, B-doubles and triple-bogeys out of the town.
“However, the design of the roundabout at the Healesville-Yarra Glen Road and Bell Street intersection is crucial to the effectiveness of the bypass and as an entrance to Yarra Glen,” Ms Holland said.
She said the community needed to be involved in the ideas being mooted.
“There is some talk of sending the heavy east-west logging traffic that accesses the Western Ring-Road up King Street and Glenview Road to avoid the school and keep those trucks out of Bell Street. This would solve one problem and create another,” she said.
“VicRoads has promised ‘consultation’, but the government’s idea of consultation is to present the community with a ‘fait accompli’.
“We would like input before the designs and de-cisions are set in concrete.”
Ms Holland said it was envisaged Bell Street would become a truck-free zone, except for local deliveries.
“The opportunity will be there to improve the environs of Yarra Glen with some sympathetic townscaping,” she said.
She said the public meeting to be held at Yarra Glen Memorial Hall is an opportunity for anyone who is interested, concerned or excited by the idea of developing a townscape for Yarra Glen, and getting the council and state funds to do it; or for anyone who is concerned about the design and practicalities of the bypass, to look over the plans and make their views known.