Council calls for bipartisan support for Geelong Ring Road Extension

Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM is advocating for bipartisan support for the Geelong Ring Road Extension to deliver a critical road link to the Bellarine ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

The extension or “Bellarine Link” would connect Baanip Boulevard at the Surf Coast Highway to Barwon Heads Road significantly benefiting the local community and visitors with a safer faster and more direct link between Melbourne Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

The major road infrastructure project is among the City’s local and regional priorities that require investment from the Federal and/or State Government.

Completing the extension would reduce travel times between the current Ring Road and some of the furthest points on the Bellarine Peninsula by as much as fifteen minutes and alleviate congestion especially during peak times.

The new infrastructure would also reduce truck movement in Central Geelong allowing heavy vehicles to move between Melbourne and Geelong’s North and the Bellarine Peninsula without travelling through the CBD.

The Victorian Government has already undertaken community consultation and planning work and the road is identified as a key infrastructure project in Victoria’s Big Build. A Business Case has also been completed with the project requiring Federal and State funding commitments.

Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:

Extending the Geelong Ring Road to Barwon Heads Road is vital for our growing region.

As the population grows and the traffic through that area increases and we need infrastructure that keeps pace with community need.

The extension would reduce travel times by up to 15 minutes and support our region's growing population by improving the links between the Bellarine and Melbourne.

It would also support rail connections to Marshall Station and support active travel through separate paths that keep cars cyclists and pedestrians safely apart.

For sustainable growth and liveability we need fewer trucks in Central Geelong and the Geelong Ring Road Extension would enable a direct link between Geelong’s North and the Bellarine without trucks in our CBD.

As we approach the upcoming Federal Election I want to see every candidate commit to this project – we need the support of all parties so that this infrastructure is delivered regardless of the result.