Greater Geelong’s mayor is calling for the release of the Bellarine Link business case and to support the Geelong Ring Road Extension.
Stretch Kontelj OAM wrote to the state minister for Transport Infrastructure and Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams, to appeal for the extension’s, or ‘Bellarine Link’, business case.
The state government completed a business case in 2022, following community consultations, traffic modelling, social studies and environmental investigations to examine the potential for a future road extension.
Mr Kontelj said council had requested the business case on many occasions and that it was important to put the project on the radar ahead of the federal election.
“A Bellarine Link is one of our local and regional priorities that require investment from the Commonwealth and Victorian governments,” he said.
“Without the business case being made public, it’s difficult to get a full picture of what’s possible and challenging to advocate for funding.
“With the extension identified as a key infrastructure project in the state’s Big Build, we ask that the business case is made public so we can get on with advocating for our community’s needs.”
The Bellarine Link would connect Baanip Boulevard at the Surf Coast Highway to Barwon Heads Road, delivering a critical road link between Melbourne, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.
Travel times between the Geelong Ring Road and some of the furthest points on the Bellarine Peninsula would be cut by up to 15 minutes and alleviate congestion.
