11th October 2007

CALL FOR BY-PASS INQUIRY RESULTS

The State Government’s delay in announcing the results of an inquiry into plans for a Traralgon by-pass is creating uncertainty in the local community, according to The National Party.
Eastern Region MP Peter Hall said the results of the inquiry, according to former Premier Steve Bracks, should have been released more than three months ago.

“Even more disturbing is that Planning Minister, Justin Madden, doesn’t know what’s going on,” Mr Hall said. “When I raised the matter in Parliament this week, he had no answers.”

Mr Hall was supported by Morwell MLA, Russell Northe, who said the growth in the local region required the Government to act quickly.

“People locally want to know what the future holds for the area so they can make business and personal decisions about development, including housing,” Mr Northe said.
In Parliament, Mr Hall asked the Minister about the Traralgon by-pass supplementary inquiry.

“The inquiry was established earlier this year to take a further look at the decision on the route chosen by the original advisory committee inquiry in 2004 in bypassing Traralgon,” Mr Hall said.
“In particular the focus of this supplementary inquiry was on the proposed Princes Highway bypass route on the western side of Traralgon.”

Mr Hall said he made a submission to the supplementary inquiry, which is chaired by Keith Hamilton, a former member for Morwell, way back in April.

“Recent inquiries directed to the government regarding progress on this inquiry resulted in advice being given to my colleague the current member for Morwell, Mr Russell Northe, by the then Premier, Steve Bracks, in a letter dated 18 June.

“Importantly he (Mr Bracks) mentioned; ‘The committee's report is not expected to be completed until 3 July 2007.’”

Mr Hall said more than three months since the report was due, there was still no word.
And the response from the Planning Minister was less than satisfactory.

“Mr Madden really had no idea what was going on,” Mr Hall said outside Parliament.
“His was a particularly lame response. He said he thought it was with the department but really had no idea of its status.”

Mr Hall added: “This is an important matter for the future development of the City of Latrobe and in particular for the corridor between Traralgon and Morwell.”

Mr Hall and Mr Northe have called on the Minister to make available the report of the supplementary inquiry immediately and that he announce “as a matter of urgency” the government's decision regarding the preferred bypass route.

Media contact:                  Peter Hall      (03) 5174 7066   or 0427 747 066