Families demand answers as truck bypass threatens homes

Kris and Rebecca Grattan moved to Gippsland in search of a quieter country lifestyle. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono) Three Gippsland families say a proposed $21-million alternative truck route will cut through their properties, forcing land acquisition and significantly altering their homes, farms and businesses. They say the government is ignoring a better bypass option that will not affect homes. The Department of Transport and Planning says it will continue to work with the landowners and minimise impact on them where possible. Link copiedShareShare articleFrom the kitchen window of their home in Victoria's east, Kris and Rebecca Grattan fear their rural outlook will soon be replaced by the roar and headlights of heavy trucks if a planned $21-million bypass crosses their land. The couple say they have spent almost a decade "in limbo" as plans for the proposed Sale Alternative Truck Route sat idle due to funding delays and renewed planning. The project, jointly funded by state and federal governments, would redirect freight traffic, including B-double trucks, away from the Sale township through Myrtlebank in a bid to save truck drivers approximately five minutes in travel time. The Victorian government has settled on the new roundabout site and bypass route, which passes through the backyards of three families, requiring compulsory acquisition of some of their land. Kris and Bec Grattan's backyard could be drastically altered if the bypass is built. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono) The Grattans and their neighbours support freight route upgrades, but want authorities to consider one of the other bypass alignments which would cross into vacant, unoccupied farmland instead of carving up land so close to their homes. Mr Grattan said the bypass idea was first raised by the government in 2017. "There was never any definite or confirmed or preferred route at that time … and then it all sort of went quiet because they [the government] didn't receive any funding for the project," Mr Grattan said. He said now, when the state was so far in debt, it seemed odd that the project was going ahead at all. "Our biggest issues are really the lack of consultation, privacy, exposure, light pollution and noise pollution," Mr Grattan said. "We really can't make a decision … [to build in our backyard] I can't even plant a tree because I don't know where anything is going." Kris and Rebecca Grattan say the proposed route would bring heavy traffic to the edge of their backyard. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono) Farmer and greyhound breeder Daniel Mizzi said he was concerned about safety, noise and the impact on his livestock and animals. He said the bypass would run within metres of his daughter's bedroom and he was worried his family would be exposed to danger if a truck was involved in an accident and veered off the road. The blue path, known as "Alignment 1", is currently the preferred option for the Sale alternate truck route. (Supplied: Transport Victoria) "There's two kids' bedrooms there and that's quite close … so safety is probably the number one factor," Mr Mizzi said. Dividing his property would also greatly disrupt his farming operations, requiring him to move his cattle back and forth across the new road as they require regular rotations, he said. Mr Mizzi would also have to cross the bypass to start his irrigation pump, as well as transferring tractors from one side to the other. Additionally, he would be forced to downsize and relocate his greyhound enclosure to a different area. Cattle farmer Daniel Mizzi also breeds greyhounds on his property. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono) Neighbour David Turnbull runs a distillery and said the bypass would sever his barley paddocks and limit future growth. He said 150 trees would have to be ripped out to make way for the new bypass. "I planted nearly 200 trees along the back road to stop all the road noise and now it's going to be within 10 to 20 metres of our property," he said. "There is going to be an extra 100 B-double trucks go past our back door every day now," he said. The bypass would cut through part of David Turnbull's barley paddock. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono) "Not one person has been out and had a look or even talked to us about it," Mr Turnbull said. David and Michelle Turnbull are concerned government planners are withholding information. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono) Local federal MP and deputy Nationals leader Darren Chester said he supported the need for freight infrastructure, but questioned how much consultation was undertaken with the residents. "It's critically important we get it right and minimise the impact on local landholders," he said. Darren Chester says the state government should reconsider whether the preferred alignment is the right choice. (Supplied: Darren Chester MP) "What they've done so far is talk at the residents rather than listen to their concerns." He said transparency was needed around how the alignment was chosen. Th

Families demand answers as truck bypass threatens homes

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