A COLAC truck route could still head through the city along a rail reserve, but not on residential streets.

Colac Otway Shire Council has released five alternative truck routes in or around Colac, with councillors rejecting a move to drop two of the proposed routes.

The truck route would divert heavy traffic out of central Colac.

Councillor Frank Buchanan wanted to rule out two options from a community reference group’s shortlist of five.

Cr Buchanan said the council should concentrate on investigating routes north of Lake Colac, across the lake, and an outer southern path but he lost the vote, 2-4.

The the other two options would be along Colac’s railway line, involving a tunnel, and an inner southern route connecting to the Princes Highway at Larpent and Collins roads, via Irrewillipe Road.

The outer southern route would join the highway at Swan Marsh Road and Warncoort-Birregurra Road, travelling as far south as the intersection of Skinners and Irrewillipe roads.

“I think we missed an opportunity to put Colac residents’ minds at rest by losing that amendment yesterday,” Cr Buchanan told the Colac Herald yesterday.

“I rang around at least half of the reference group people to say look, we need to have this discussion.”

The council released a consultant’s report into the truck routes, listing 10 original proposals.

Mayor Stephen Hart said the community should have access to the report.

“The angst is already out there because people have some hints but they don’t have the detail.”

But Cr Lyn Russell said the council should hold on to the report because it was incomplete.

“I’ve had over 67 people come to my door, ring me or catch

up with me about this issue – they want a line on the map,” she said.

“The community is very upset and I don’t blame them one bit.

“This report that’s going out is going to increase that angst because it names routes that might not be recommended by the group and may not even be considered by council.”

Meanwhile, Colac’s Wilson and Pollack street residents can breathe a sigh of relief after the council cut the areas out of plans for the truck route.

Colac Otway Shire councillors have decided the short-term options were unacceptable, after outrage from residents.

Colac group Residents for a Liveable Community formed to protest truck routes in residential areas, and they presented a petition with 650 signatures to the council at Wednesday’s council meeting.

The consultant’s report on truck route options is on the council’s website.

“It should be noted that in releasing the report, this council is not necessarily recommending that we agree with all or any of the listed options,” Cr Hart said.