Elsie Lange
Sunbury Resident Association (SRA) has welcomed the state Coalition’s pledge to build a Bulla Bypass if elected in November.
The state Liberals and Nationals have promised $231 million to build the hotly anticipated bypass, with Sunbury Liberal candidate Simmone Cottom telling Star Weekly the project “will be started in my first term”.
“If elected I won’t let this project be forgotten about as it’s well overdue,” she said.
SRA president Graham Williams said the pledge was an “excellent commitment”.
“If it can be achieved, and I’m not costing export, something like this has been talked about for so long it’s almost folklore,” he said.
“I’ve lived in Sunbury for 35 years … it was being talked about when we first came … it’s just a missing piece of the transport strategy.”
Hume council said while it had not received a timeline for the bypass works, it welcomed the project starting as soon as possible to accommodate the growing population of the region.
“[In 2021] community consultation was undertaken by the state government and found that 94 per cent of respondents were in favour of the bypass,” council said.
“We’d like to see whichever party forms government at the upcoming state election commits to making this bypass a reality for Hume rather than just empty words.”
Council said it anticipated the construction of the bypass would cost more than the funding commitment but “either way this project is much needed”.
“A new road link between Bulla-Diggers Rest Road and Somerton Road won’t just reduce commuting times for residents but will help reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling through Bulla,” council said.
Sunbury MP Josh Bull said Major Roads Projects Victoria was still completing investigations in the area to inform a business case for the bypass, including designs, timelines and costings – he said $231 million fell “well short” of cost projections.
“It appears the Coalition have plucked their costings out of thin air … This is no small project, and we must get it right,” Mr Bull said.
“Planning is essential and the first major step in this major project.”
Jacksons Creek ward councillor Jack Medcraft said while he welcomed the announcement, which had taken “20 years”, he thought the duplication of Sunbury Road around the back of Melbourne Airport was a more pressing issue.
“In the money they’ve allocated, could they please duplicate the road before they build the bridge, because that’s the most important piece of infrastructure we’ve got,” he said.
