The Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports announced in December 2007, that agreement in principal had been reached between the Campaspe and Murray Shires and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation (YYNAC), for detailed investigations into a new corridor for a second Murray River crossing at Echuca-Moama.
The Mid – West Corridor has the potential to provide an effective link between Warren Street and the Cobb Highway, crossing the Murray River downstream of the Echuca Caravan Park. View Mid – West Corridor Map [JPEG, 1,68KB].
Background to Selection of the Mid – West Corridor
Overview of the Mid West Corridor Planning Study
Cultural Heritage and the Environment
Community Consultation
More Information
VicRoads in liaison with the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) has previously undertaken a planning study for Eastern, Central and Western Corridor options for a second crossing of the Murray River between Echuca and Moama in 2000/2001.
- VicRoads has not been able to finalise the planning for the previously approved Western Alignment (W1) resulting from the 2001 study owing to Aboriginal cultural heritage requirements for the project.
- Finding a corridor which meets the traffic management needs of Echuca – Moama and respects Aboriginal cultural heritage has been a challenging exercise.
- Discussions involving the key stakeholders resulted in the Campaspe and Murray Shire Councils and the YYNAC providing in-principal agreement to investigations being undertaken for a Mid-West Corridor, with a crossing of the Murray River downstream of the Echuca Caravan Park.
- This is the first time in the history of the project that all parties have agreed on a corridor for detailed investigations.
- The previously investigated Eastern, Central and Western Corridors are not viable options for further consideration.
- Relieve the traffic pressures on the existing bridge and provide additional traffic capacity to meet the growing demand for daily traffic movements between Echuca and Moama. (The majority of the traffic using the existing bridge is local traffic travelling between Echuca and Moama on a daily basis. Only a small proportion is through traffic with destinations beyond Echuca and Moama).
- The potential to minimise the impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage.
- Avoids the historic Port of Echuca.
- Provides an effective transport link between the Murray Valley Highway and the Cobb Highway, enabling traffic to bypass the central business and historic port precincts.
For information on common queries raised by the public, please see our Frequently Asked Questions [PDF, 32KB, 2pp].
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VicRoads will lead the planning study in liaison with the RTA, guided by a Steering Committee with representatives from RTA NSW, Campaspe and Murray Shire Councils, YYNAC, Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC), and VicRoads.
The intention of the planning study is to investigate the feasibility of an alignment within the Mid-West Corridor. Specialist studies will include:
- Traffic and economic analysis
- Flora and fauna
- Water and air quality
- Cultural heritage
- Hydrology
- Noise
- Social impacts
- Land use
- Business and tourism
- Landscaping assessment
VicRoads is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural environment and considering cultural heritage through responsible planning. Specialist studies will be undertaken to address cultural heritage and environmental issues.
VicRoads recognises the importance of Victoria Park and the adjacent sporting facilities and their significance to the Echuca and Moama communities.
The planning study will consider the future needs of Victoria Park, the development of the sporting precinct and the integration of the road link within the local environment.
Victoria established a Native Vegetation Framework in 2002, which provides a strategic direction for protection, enhancement and revegetation of native flora on infrastructure projects.
Existing background noise levels will be measured adjacent to the corridor and traffic noise resulting from a road link will be modelled. This will identify where noise reduction treatments would need to be considered to reduce noise levels in accordance with VicRoads and RTA noise policies.
Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments will be undertaken in consultation with the relevant Aboriginal parties.
A preliminary Aboriginal cultural heritage walk through has been completed for this corridor and has identified a number of scarred trees and several possible areas of Aboriginal cultural heritage sensitivity. These features will be considered when determining a potential alignment.
Community consultation will form a critical part of the planning investigations. Public information displays and information bulletins will be provided as the planning progresses. Details of the public information sessions will be advertised in the local newspapers.
A CCG has been formed which includes 15 community representatives.
The purpose of the group is to provide input on issues from a local resident, business/industry and community perspective and to assist with information sharing. The CCG is an advisory body and does not have any decision making authority for the study.
The first meeting of the CCG was held on 16 April 2008 and further meetings will be held on a regular basis during the planning study. View CCG Representatives [PDF, 32KB] for details of the community representatives.
Phone: VicRoads (03) 5434 5000 during office hours Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Write to: Regional Director – Northern Victoria
VicRoads
PO Box 204
Bendigo VIC 3552
Email: nr.mail@roads.vic.gov.au
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