THE Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber (MUBC) has reservations about the recently announced preferred bypass route.
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The chamber, while supportive of a bypass in general, does not support the road joining the Princes Highway at Canberra Crescent.
The chamber sent the Milton Ulladulla Times a detailed statement in regards to the bypass.
"Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber (MUBC) wants the bypass to proceed ASAP and are happy with the proposal at the northern end around Milton," the statement said.
"Changes to Milton traffic flow are needed desperately and if action had been taken sooner the current stop-gap to add traffic lights could have been avoided."
The statement goes onto explain why the MUBC does not support the Canberra Crescent option.
"MUBC does not support the bypass joining the highway at Canberra Crescent We would have preferred an alternate bypass West of the lake, joining the Highway south of Lake Tabourie," the statement continued.
"MUBC believe this is a short-sighted decision and a temporary fix at best.
"The RMS and governments have not considered the cost and impact to redevelop the Princes Highway south of the bypass whilst planning the bypass itself."
The chamber fears for the future of villages like Burrill and Tabourie.
"The changes to the Princes Highway through Burrill and Tabourie will have negative effects which could have been avoided were the alternative western Bypass route chosen," the statement added.
"The proposed bypass will create a four-lane 'freeway' style road through the middle of these tourist villages.
"This will radically change the nature of these areas, particularly Burrill Lake.
"The change from a beachside village to a 'freeway suburb' will likely impact all current businesses and planned developments, as well as residents of course.
"There is a real possibility that bypass development will cause the compulsory acquisition of land on which business is currently situated, causing those businesses to close.
"It is also likely Burrill Lake becomes much less attractive as a tourist destination which could have a significant impact on the three large tourist parks that border the bypass."
The MUBC wants the decision to be reviewed.
"MUBC gave feedback to the RMS that the proposed plan did not meet the needs of the business and residential community," the statement went on to explain.
"We are not satisfied that the alternative routes were given adequate consideration.
"The MUBC encourages the RMS to review this decision and would support any option that revisits the planning without delaying work commencing at the Northern/Milton end of the current proposal."