THE region’s forestry sector and Penola business fraternity have expressed dismay as the State Government continues to snub the Penola bypass project, which is among the region’s most pressing infrastructure needs.
While the government allocated millions of dollars for new infrastructure projects in metropolitan Adelaide, it again has failed to dip into its coffers to find $2m for the $11m bypass project.
The Penola township has pushed for the completion of the bypass for 60 years to improve safety in its busy main street.
It is estimated the fully completed bypass would divert up to 500 trucks per day from the centre of the historic tourism town.
The Federal Government has pledged $9m to help fund the northern section of the bypass, which will funnel the upswing in logging and wood chip traffic away from the centre of Penola.
Mount Gambier-based forestry consultant and industry leader David Quill has called on the government to look beyond the Adelaide tollgate.
“Twenty percent of the industry’s total resource is north west of Penola and needs to be transported to the Port of Portland,” Mr Quill told The Pennant.
He foreshadowed a staggering six million tonnes of wood needed to be transported to Portland.
“Some softwood has to be transported through Edenhope and the Comaum forest for processing and needs to bypass Penola,” he said.
“From the view of citizens and the timber industry this is a negative result as without the bypass it slows down log traffic and compromises the safety of the community.”
Mr Quill said the state needed to invest in Mount Gambier and the region.
Weighing in on the issue, Merrett Logging maintenance manager John Merrett warned the construction of the bypass must be done properly.
“My workers are able to purposely avoid driving through the town to avert any potential accidents with families and children crossing frequently,” Mr Merrett said.
He supported the idea of a bypass as keeping trucks off of the streets was beneficial.
Mr Merrett also expressed his frustration with the State Government about the lack of funding in the region.
“I don’t believe they are concerned with the Limestone Coast or its progression as their seats are safe, and I don’t think we will be seeing much more funding in the future,” he said.
Penola’s business owners also shared their concerns with the brakes being put on the bypass.
Local Images owner Cate Bell said it was frustrating the bypass was not complete and funding needed to be provided to regional areas, not just injected into the city.
“It is disheartening to see once again the lack of funding the area is receiving in the area,” Ms Bell said.
However Windara Bakery worker Leanne Colbert said the development was not worth the money if the entire bypass was not going to be completed in full.
“A heavy vehicle detour would be preferred as people will use it anyway rather than a bypass,” Ms Colbert said.
The state budget funding in the Limestone Coast included $1.1m for Mount Gambier Airport, $600.000 for sea wall repairs at Wyomi Beach near Kingston and $38.3m over four years to operate 160 additional beds at Mount Gambier Prison.
