Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board chairman Andrew Simms said the planned inland port would result in fewer trucks travelling through Dunedin and on State Highway88 to Port Chalmers.
"However, the Mosgiel community is rightfully concerned about the impact on SH87, Gordon Rd, which currently routes over 500 heavy trucks a-day through the main street of Mosgiel," he said.
Mr Simms, who is also a Dunedin mayoralty candidate, said the community board’s support for the inland port had always been conditional on the establishment of a bypass.
The Dunedin City Council had long identified "separation of heavy traffic from the vulnerable population of Mosgiel" as a priority, he said.
"In my view, the inland port development for North Taieri must be accompanied by a heavy transport bypass for Mosgiel.
"The outcome will then be a huge economic development opportunity for Dunedin, a win for Dunedin and the community around SH88 resulting from less trucks on these roads and finally a win for Mosgiel with the inception of the long overdue bypass."
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, who is seeking re-election, said he was pleased with where things had got to with the inland port’s application for consent.
"In my view, this project will inevitably result in a heavy traffic bypass for Mosgiel, which has been requested for a very long time."
