THE final instalment of the Penola Bypass project will start to take shape in as little as six months according to State Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll.
With funding for stage two of the project announced in the State Government’s latest budget, the public has been eagerly awaiting a construction timeline after completion was projected for 2020.
Accommodation works will start at the end of the financial year with construction under way in the 2019/20 period.
Mr Knoll said the project was on track, with preparations progressing as quickly as possible.
One of the major concerns for the greater Penola region has been the impact the bypass may have on tourism.
Community sentiment was the bypass would remain a detour for heavy vehicles as opposed to people having to leave the main highway to visit the township.
It has since been revealed the current intersection at the southern end of the bypass will be converted into a slipway to access Penola.
This action has led to some community concern that less visitors will enter the township which could decrease tourism.
Although concerns have been raised, Mr Knoll remained confident the bypass would enhance tourism in the region.
“At the moment the main street is seeing around 500 trucks a day travel through,” he said.
“Getting the trucks out of the town is a huge priority but we are also dedicated to making sure tourists will still take the time to visit Penola.
“We are committed to getting the balance right and improving the town’s overall aesthetic.”
Wattle Range Council has worked alongside the government to create tourism strategies to ensure the town continues to thrive as it does.
“We have had meetings to discuss finding signage for the entrance to the town,” Knoll said.
“Although it may be a small part of the overall project, we are confident we will get it right.”
With these strategies to be implemented, the question is raised whether the town’s business strip would eventually relocate to the bypass, ultimately voiding the project’s original intent.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin and Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi assured there were strategies to ensure this was not the case.
Mr Gandolfi said land access parallel to the bypass was restricted.
“You just will not be able to build a gate or have any access from either side,” he said.
“Therefore the main street cannot sprawl to the bypass as there’s no opportunity to build businesses there.”
Ms Pasin believes bypasses built by previous governments were not executed correctly which have facilitated the relocation of the town’s main precincts to the bypass.
“Bypass projects in Tailem Bend and similar areas have been done poorly,” Mr Pasin said.
“There was nothing in place to make sure businesses were not allowed to relocate to the area, which meant there has been confusion as to what is the main street.
“We have engineered the bypass to make it impossible for it to be used as anything other than that.”
