Families demand answers as truck bypass threatens homes

Kris and Rebecca Grattan moved to Gippsland in search of a quieter country lifestyle. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono)

Three Gippsland families say a proposed $21-million alternative truck route will cut through their properties, forcing land acquisition and significantly altering their homes, farms and businesses.

They say the government is ignoring a better bypass option that will not affect homes.

The Department of Transport and Planning says it will continue to work with the landowners and minimise impact on them where possible.

From the kitchen window of their home in Victoria's east, Kris and Rebecca Grattan fear their rural outlook will soon be replaced by the roar and headlights of heavy trucks if a planned $21-million bypass crosses their land.

The couple say they have spent almost a decade "in limbo" as plans for the proposed Sale Alternative Truck Route sat idle due to funding delays and renewed planning.

The project, jointly funded by state and federal governments, would redirect freight traffic, including B-double trucks, away from the Sale township through Myrtlebank in a bid to save truck drivers approximately five minutes in travel time.

The Victorian government has settled on the new roundabout site and bypass route, which passes through the backyards of three families, requiring compulsory acquisition of some of their land.

Kris and Bec Grattan's backyard could be drastically altered if the bypass is built. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono)

The Grattans and their neighbours support freight route upgrades, but want authorities to consider one of the other bypass alignments which would cross into vacant, unoccupied farmland instead of carving up land so close to their homes.

Mr Grattan said the bypass idea was first raised by the government in 2017.

"There was never any definite or confirmed or preferred route at that time … and then it all sort of went quiet because they [the government] didn't receive any funding for the project," Mr Grattan said.

He said now, when the state was so far in debt, it seemed odd that the project was going ahead at all.

"Our biggest issues are really the lack of consultation, privacy, exposure, light pollution and noise pollution," Mr Grattan said.

"We really can't make a decision … [to build in our backyard] I can't even plant a tree because I don't know where anything is going."

Kris and Rebecca Grattan say the proposed route would bring heavy traffic to the edge of their backyard. (ABC News: Jack Colantuono)

Farmer and greyhound breeder Daniel Mizzi said he was concerned about safety, noise and the i