The move paves the way for a Public Acquisition Overlay to be used for the purpose of reserving and acquiring land for the Ballarat Western Link Road project.  

However, south ward councillor Ben Taylor flagged concerns the multi-million dollar development failed to address major traffic concerns in Buninyong, including an expected influx of trucks coming down the Midland Highway as a result of the Western Link Road.

Cr Taylor sought a timeline for when the council will take steps to fix traffic in Buninyong.

“In terms of planning we ahead of the game, we’re preparing for the growth in our area and for the houses that are being built,” he said.

“But one of these days, the Buninyong traffic situation needs to be addressed.”

But the council’s infrastructure and environment director Terry Demeo said work to enable the Western Link Road to bypass Buninyong was beyond the scope of the council.

It’s estimated such an addition would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. 

“The opportunity to bypass a town like Buninyong is an enormous exercise in terms of investigation given its environmental impacts in terms of waterways and vegetation,” he said.

“It would likely require an Environmental Statement to do it justice and that is something council will take responsibility for, they are matters for VicRoads.” 

The council has completed final planning of the Ballarat Link Road’s 1B section, with works expected to begin early this year.  

The 2.5-kilometre stage will connect Remembrance Drive in Alfredton to a new access point, Liberator Drive, to the Ballarat West Employment Zone near the intersection of Ring Road and Trewin Street.