By Melissa Grant
LANDHOLDERS in Kooweerup are in limbo as they wait for a bypass for the town to be built.
They say the 20-odd properties along the two proposed routes are virtually worthless until funding is committed and a decision is made on the long-awaited project.
Cardinia Shire Port Ward councillor Stuart Halligan said farmers’ cropping plans and the sale of property had been halted as they waited for a route to be chosen.
He said some residents were affected by both road overlays.
“What they’re wanting is some answers,” Cr Halligan said.
Residents voiced their concerns at a recent meeting with Cr Halligan, Bass MP Ken Smith and Eastern Victoria MP Edward O’Donohue.
Mr Smith said landholders deserved an answer from the State Government.
“Families wanting to sell their properties for any number of reasons are hamstrung because no one wants to buy an uncertain future,” he said.
As reported in the Gazette last week, the 70 heavy trucks that rumble through Kooweerup’s streets each hour are causing traffic chaos in the small town.
Joanne Algie, spokeswoman for the affected landholders, said a decision on the project was well overdue.
“We are over it. We all agree the bypass is needed, but we can’t make any decisions about our future until we know what’s going on,” she said.
“My father brought two properties here over 40 years ago and is now in his early 70s and ready to retire. His property represents his superannuation, but he can’t sell either because no one would be stupid enough to buy a property that could be reclaimed by adverse possession.”
Kooweerup Township Committee chairman Ray Brown said: “We just want something done – it’s going to inconvenience someone.”
Acting Roads Minister Jacinta Allan said VicRoads has been undertaking specialist studies into possible Kooweerup Bypass alignments.
She said residents would have an opportunity to view and comment on VicRoads’ preferred option once this work had been completed.
Ms Allan said the preferred bypass alignment would be released publicly in the first half of this year.
