A perennial one is the next stage of the Ballarat Link Road, which would duplicate Dyson Drive from Remembrance Drive to the Midland Highway - when fully complete, the road will link (that's the name!) the Western, Glenelg, and Midland highways, as well as provide a new north-south arterial through the city's new western growth zones.

It would also help livestock trucks access the new regional livestock exchange in Miners Rest, as well as the Ballarat West Employment Zone with its potential rail and air freight connections.

The good news is the project will probably take more trucks out of Doveton Street and help ease some traffic pressure on Wiltshire Lane and other choked roads as thousands more people move to the area - the bad news is, it'll take about $90 million to get all 12 kilometres properly done.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW

Council has been calling for funding for the next stage, the $35 million duplication of Dyson Drive, since the first stage was opened in 2018.

It's been unsuccessful at every election and budget since, despite key players like the Committee for Ballarat throwing their support behind it, residents crying out for a better road network, a blitz from council itself in its own magazine, and a personal op-ed from the mayor.

One reason no government's funded the project yet is that it still lacks a business case, which council chief executive Evan King confirmed in a statement to The Courier.

So far, council has allocated $175,000 to "the next stage of readiness", he said, with an application for more funding through Regional Development Victoria "for funding to deliver an updated full business case for the project", with more funding required for final designs, "a significant cost".

Estimates for the project have changed over the years, but Mr King confirmed the current cost is about $35 million, noting "previous costings were done a long time ago at concept stage, the cost of road construction has increased dramatically over recent years".

Council has also begun proper community consultation for the project, with a survey on its online MySay page, following earlier consultations years ago.

"Our sense is there is very strong support for this project to happen, and that Alfredton and Lucas residents are particularly keen to see Dyson Drive upgraded to improve traffic flow," Mr King said.

IN THE NEWS

"The survey gives us one measure of that sentiment that can help build the case to government about why Ballarat needs this project to be delivered."

One concern is the explosive growth of housing developments adjacent to Dyson Drive, with residents perhaps not ready for a major truck route to go past their houses.

Mr King said planning amendments were already in place, including a public acquisition overlay on the land required.

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