By Oliver Lees
A Bulla resident has been left fuming after the development of the Bulla Bypass was listed as only a ‘consideration’ in a statewide infrastructure strategy listing priorities for the next 30 years.
The report was conducted by independent advisory group Infrastructure Victoria.
The upgrade of the Hume Freeway, Mickleham Road and Somerton Road were considered more urgent, each listed as a ‘recommendation’ in the report.
Steve Rankin, who has lived in Bulla for 25 years, said the traffic congestion around his home was an “absolute nightmare”.
“We’re just a forgotten little community here, [the Bulla Bypass] should have been done 30 years ago, it’s an absolute joke,” Mr Rankin said.
“When it’s peak hour, around 3.30pm ,you can end up queuing up right back to the airport, and then you just crawl into Bulla.
“It’s a lovely little place here but the traffic coming through now is horrendous and it’s only going to get worse.”
The Bulla Bypass, which would see a new road built to connect Somerton Road and Sunbury Road, has been discussed for a number of years, with the state government allocating $6.5 million in the 2020-21 to develop a business case for the project.
Hume councillor Jack Medcraft has been advocating for the Bulla Bypass since 2001.
He described the constant delays to the project as “the greatest con job of all time”.
“I question whether these people who make these decisions actually know where Sunbury is,” Cr Medcraft said.
“We’ve got four new housing estates in Sunbury, plus Romsey, plus Clarkefield that are all going to be added to the traffic on Sunbury Road.
“How else are we going to move an extra 20,000 cars?”
Infrastructure Victoria networks and planning director Peter Kartsidimas told Star Weekly the report had been made by “drawing on transport modelling, research and community feedback”.
“The Outer Metropolitan Ring Road will improve connections for communities in growth areas to jobs, services, international transport hubs and future freight terminals,” Mr Kartsidimas said.
“Given this project’s close proximity to the planned Bulla Bypass, we suggest any work undertaken for the bypass first consider the network implications of the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road.”
