Phillip Island Road Users
DoT (Department of Transport) is the Responsible Authority for Phillip Island Road and Bass Highway.
We work closely with DoT and advocate strongly to the State Government for improvements along the main roads. Our efforts have resulted in upgrades to Phillip Island Road and funding from the State Government for significant road corridor planning. Funded projects include dual lane roundabouts at Back Beach Road and Woolamai Beach Road. Planning continues for other improvements in the Newhaven, San Remo and Kilcunda areas.
Parking near NRMA Phillip Island Tourist Park Cowes
We answer your questions about parking near the Cowes NRMA Phillip Island Tourist Park.
Phillip Island Integrated Transport Study
The Phillip Island Integrated Transport Study provides an important framework for traffic and transport modelling through to 2030 attracting funding from the State and Commonwealth Governments for future projects. The study was funded by the Victorian State Government, and Bass Coast Shire Council, with input from DoT (Department of Transport). It looked at all forms of transport right across the study area, including Phillip Island, San Remo and Anderson. A Community Reference Group was formed, to provide valuable community input.
San Remo Access Strategy
The San Remo Access Strategy is a guiding document to inform future developments to ensure multiple access points within San Remo.
Council adopted the San Remo Access Strategy in August 2013. This Strategy recommends to seal Shetland Heights Road and Potters Hill Road with acknowledgement that there would need to be further consideration given to the Potters Hill Road and Phillip Island Road intersection.
Funding for these upgrades would likely come from a variety of sources such as Developers, ratepayers and Council. We also endeavour to source State and Federal Government grant funds when they are available and applicable, to support projects.
People driving along the Bass Highway and the Phillip Island Tourist Road will notice a blue line marked on the roadway. DoT (Department of Transport) is the Responsible Authority for Phillip Island Road and Bass Highway.
DoT supplies information regarding operation of the blue line.
It is important that drivers understand that this blue line only becomes operational at selected times during the year when major events are held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
Signs along the route will clearly indicate when the blue line is in operation.
The operation of the blue line is limited, as it requires a high police and emergency services presence for potential safety risks. Significant traffic management is required to be in place to support the blue line operation e.g. increased policing, speed reductions, side road closures, specific signing and this needs to be co-ordinated and additional resources made available.
If you wish to follow up on this, the DoT website provides a means to do this.
Much of the Bass Coast community appreciates the local flora and fauna. Many residents across the shire are concerned about the loss of animal life on roads.
Council is required to refer to DoT (Department of Transport)’s Traffic Engineering Manual – Speed Zoning Guidelines that are used to set speed limits consistently and credibly across Victoria. DoT requires a road to be assessed and to fit certain criteria before it will support the application for review. Recent speed limit reductions around Phillip Island include 40km/h in Marine Parade San Remo and a 40km/h school zone outside Newhaven College on Phillip Island Road, and a speed reduction in the new school zone on Cowes Rhyll Road. The speed limit on Rhyll-Newhaven Road is currently under review. We will continue to work to achieve speed limits that appropriately match the environment.
We are also currently working with DoT to develop permanent non-standard wildlife awareness signage for Phillip Island. The signage will be designed to alert drivers to the unique environment with Phillip Island’s increasing wildlife numbers and increasing traffic volumes. This project will also have input from other key stakeholders including Victoria Police, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Phillip Island Wildlife Rescue, Phillip Island Integrated Transport Study Steering Group, Phillip Island Integrated Transport Study Community Reference Group, Tourism Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Phillip Island Visitor Economy Strategy Community Reference Group. This is considered a trial project, which has potential to be implemented across the whole shire. Council’s adopted 2019/20 budget included funding to conduct a trial of other wildlife road safety virtual fencing technology. Results of the trial will be used to decide on any future use of the virtual fencing.