By Amy Hume
THE Kilmore Wallan Bypass debate has sparked the formation of a new bypass group pushing for an option to the west.
Kilmore East farmer Kevin Butler formed the group West is Best after learning he could lose his home to one of the potential routes and discovering he was not alone.
Mr Butler has scrutinised the current options (all to the east) suggesting the cost of “super bridges,” floodplains and difficult terrain could mean the most likely route is closest to the Kilmore township, which, he said “carves through a very sensitive area.”
“A bypass skirting west of Kilmore through flat open farmland, diverting near the Kurkurac Creek bridge on the Northern Highway going across open farmland west of the Kilmore township and joining the Kilmore-Wandong/Epping Road just one kilometre south of Kilmore makes more sense,” he said.
“Either they (VicRoads) don’t know what is involved, they don’t know where the current future growth is or there is a secret agenda or taboo.”
When asked about the option of going west, VicRoads’ regional director for northern Victoria Mal Kersting suggested it wasn’t likely as the option was discredited in new and previous studies.
“A bypass option running along Gehrigs Lane, Paynes Road and Kings Lane and connected to the Hume Freeway at Wandong via the Epping Kilmore Road, was considered in a previous study,” he said.
“This (study), and previous studies, have found options to the west of Kilmore and Wallan were not as effective as options to the east in attracting traffic and did not demonstrate any additional benefits in reducing traffic in Wallan and Kilmore.”
Mr Butler said the option the group is suggesting is more of an “option J compromise” that cuts south of Kilmore, and not going to Beveridge.
Studying the options available, he said there was a strong case for a bypass option to the west.
This includes theories that a route to the west would be cheaper, housing growth is to the west, there are fewer hills, and fewer people would lose their homes.
Public meeting
Mr Butler said affected homeowners of the eastern bypass options, or interested parties, could attend the next West is Best meeting for a public forum.
The meeting will be held at Mr Butler’s wool shed at 70 Kilmore East Road, Kilmore East (500 metres east of the railway underpass) this Sunday (November 20) at 7pm.
Mr Butler said interested or concerned residents who may wish to have their input on the “west is best” concept, or wish to join the group, can email <
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
> or call Kevin Butler on 0418 530 471.
A detailed list of findings by the group, including theories about the current corridor options, can be found at <www.westisbest.com.au>.
