East Victorian MP Peter Hall raised the matter in Parliament early last month – some three months after the inquiry report was due to be released – but has just been told by the Planning Minister in a letter dated 31 October, that there is still no news on the by-pass route.
“It is becoming ridiculous and is causing uncertainty in the development of the largest population centre in Gippsland,” Mr Hall said. “What people want to know is the route of the by-pass, so they can plan appropriately for the future.
“Surely that is not that much of an ask, especially since the report by the Traralgon by-pass supplementary inquiry was apparently completed some five months ago.”
Morwell MLA, Russell Northe, pointed out that the inquiry early this year was a supplementary inquiry, which indicated that there had been at least two such inquiries so far.
“People locally want to know what the future holds for the area so they can make business and personal decisions about development, including housing, which is becoming a bigger issue with each month that passes,” Mr Northe said.
Mr Hall said the inquiry established earlier this year was to take a further look at the decision on the route chosen by the original advisory committee inquiry in 2004. The focus of the supplementary inquiry was on the proposed Princes Highway bypass route on the western side of Traralgon.
Mr Northe has a letter in which the previous Premier, Mr Bracks, states that the committee report was due for completion in the first week of July.
However, when Mr Hall raised the matter in Parliament in October, the Planning Minister Justin Madden had little knowledge of what was happening.
In the letter to Mr Hall following his question in Parliament, the Minister refused to make any comment. “The Government is not in a position to comment on the content or release of the report, or any likely outcomes,” the Minister said.
Mr Hall reiterated that it was an important matter for the future development of the City of Latrobe and in particular for the corridor between Traralgon and Morwell.
“The Government does not seem to think this is important, but it clearly is to the people of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland,” he said.
“The report has been done, the supplementary inquiry has been held under the leadership of the former member for Morwell, Keith Hamilton – there seems no good reason to delay in the announcement.
“Mr Northe and I will keep after the Minister to provide the information.”
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