KOONWARRA TO MEENIYAN (BLACK SPUR) SEPTEMBER 2018 SOUTH GIPPSLAND HIGHWAY REALIGNMENT The Australian and Victorian Governments have partnered to realign the section of South Gippsland Highway known as the Black Spur. In July, the Major Road Projects The South Gippsland Highway Realignment will: Timeline Authority was formed to plan and • reduce the length of highway between Mid 2017/18: deliver all major road projects for Old Koonwarra-Meeniyan Road and Victoria, including the delivery Minns Road from 3.4km to 2.3km • Budget: project funding of this important upgrade. • remove nine sharp bends and install Late 2017: safety barriers • referral under Commonwealth build two new bridges over the Overview • EPBC Act Tarwin River To improve safety and provide a more • build an underpass east of the new Early 2018: efficient journey, we are realigning Caithness Road intersection for the a section of the Sth Gippsland Highway Great Southern Rail Trail • Request for additional between Koonwarra and Meeniyan environmental information from at Black Spur. • realign the Great Southern Rail Trail the Commonwealth under the new bridge near Minns Road The sharp bends of the Black Spur have contributed to a history of crashes • close the old section of highway to Mid 2018: on the highway. We've listened to the through traffic east of Caithness Road, while retaining access for residents • Approval for public exhibition community's concerns and selected received September a preferred route which provides for • build a new intersection to retain significant safety improvements. access to Caithness Road and Mid 2019: improvements to the existing intersection at Minns Road. • Start of construction roadprojects.vic.gov.au Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne BUILDING OUR FUTURE Sth d G ipps Meeniya n la nd Hwy rne Melbou an Roa y ni e Tarwyn River West Branch Tie-in -Me with existing arra Tie-in highway w with existing oon highway Minns Road K Great Southern Rail Trail Old underpass *Map not to scale Great Southern Rail Trail South G ippsland link under bridge High Tarwin River Minns Road way West Branch Swan Road New Caithness - Township of h Road intersection Koonwarra d loc a South Gippsland Highway . nwarra o y l R Sth oo G on Inver ip K psla nd H Upgrade to Minns w y Road intersection MAP KEY purposes e tiv New alignment a ustr d l Old alignment R s s Existing road For il e . e n l h t Centreline Wire Rope i Safety Barrier a C Existing rail trail Termination of old Not to sca Bridge over Tarwin River South Gippsland Highway N Inset detailing planned works Separate road safety project Caithness Road Black Spur Creek Black Spur concept map Project status To assess the effect this project could Salvaged artefacts will be collected have on these species, we have carried and analysed to provide insight into Extensive cultural heritage investigations out a number of environmental studies. the cultural history of the local area. are now complete, and a Cultural You are invited to provide feedback Heritage Management Plan has been on the environmental impact of the We expect works to begin early to approved by Aboriginal Victoria. realignment, and review our studies. mid-2019 and to be complete in 2021. We’ll carry out salvage works with This documentation can be viewed at: support from the local Indigenous groups. • the South Gippsland Shire Council Get in touch In accordance with federal legal offices, Smith Street, Leongatha We encourage you to contact our team obligations under the Environment between 2 October and 16 October for further information: Protection and Biodiversity Conservation • via roadprojects.vic.gov.au Act 1999 (Cth), our project was referred 1800 105 105 to the Department of the Environment • our project office at 120 Kay Street, [email protected] and Energy due to matters of national Traralgon MRPA Project Office at 120 Kay Street environmental significance. A Controlled Traralgon Action was determined for two Next steps threatened species, Strzelecki Gum Register for project updates by visiting The Cultural Heritage Management and Australian Grayling. roadprojects.vic.gov.au Plan has been approved so we’ll begin significant salvage works soon. These works will be completed in stages and carried out by appointed archaeologists as well as local Indigenous representatives. CONTACT US [email protected] Please contact us if you would like this Follow us on social media 1800 105 105 information in an accessible format. @roadprojectsvic Major Road Projects Authority If you need assistance because of a hearing or GPO Box 4509, Melbourne VIC 3001 speech impairment, please visit relayservice.gov.au DEDJTR11639/50.