Council is involved in two road and traffic improvement projects on Philip Island at the moment.  Both are located in the south coast estates area of Surf Beach, Sunset Strip, Smiths Beach and Sunderland Bay.

Both these projects have several issues to resolve and Council is consulting with groups and individuals on them.  To gauge community views and resolve these issues, Council has been in discussion with local community members, members of the Phillip Island South Coast Communities Community Planning Group, other relevant authorities, and has conducted necessary environmental research.

One project is to re-align The Esplanade at Surf Beach.  This re-alignment is needed because there is currently a vehicle access track around an environmentally sensitive foreshore area that is partially outside the road reservation and encroaches onto private land.

A concept plan and covering letter for the road alignment project was circulated to residents in the vicinity of The Esplanade at Surf Beach on 8 December 2011.  This is a concept plan and not a final solution.  Residents were invited to respond to this plan, and have up to 31 January 2012 to email or write to the contact provided in the letter.

We have already received some well considered views and alternative plans and we will take these into consideration in the next steps for this project. The re-alignment is focused on fixing the existing portion of road, so there is no need for major road works, or a Special Charge Scheme throughout the Surf Beach and the Sunderland Bay area at this time.

The other project involves another complex problem in the south coast estate area.  This relates to traffic management, including safer turning on and off Phillip Island Road between Newhaven and Cowes. Council and the community are seeking ways to improve traffic safety for vehicles turning onto, and off, Phillip Island Road at several intersections along the Road.

Council recently arranged a meeting between members of Phillip Island South Coast Communities Community Planning Group and VicRoads to discuss these traffic matters. The meeting was very informative and members of this group are genuinely working together with Council and the relevant authorities to come to a suitable solution.   It does take time to fully consult on these complex issues, and we are confident VicRoads listened to the community concerns about the roads in this area of Phillip Island.
 

Cr Veronica Dowman, Mayor
Bass Coast Shire Council