Council has welcomed the opportunity to advocate directly to the Department of Transport on the need for safer road infrastructure and traffic solutions in Drouin, Warragul and across the Shire.
On Thursday 15 July, Baw Baw Shire Council Mayor Danny Goss and CEO Mark Dupe met with Nic Foa, Head of Transport Services for the Department of Transport and Sara Rhodes-Ward, Regional Director for Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) in Drouin to discuss the traffic and safety issues our community faces across the Shire.
The next State Government budget was high on the agenda, with Council keen to help strengthen the budget submission for the $3 million dollars in funding that RRV requires to develop a Transport Network Plan for the arterial road networks in Drouin and Warragul.
The meeting also included discussions about the roads impacted during the recent severe weather events, their current state and the expected timeframes for repairs and reopening. Progress along the Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road and Walhalla roads were a key focus.
Council's other road management priority projects include:
- Addressing congestion in the Drouin town centre.
- Upgrading the freeway roundabout at the Korumburra-Warragul Road exit.
- Linking Balfour Road to Lardner Road.
- Colman Street traffic lights.
- Duplication of Princes Way between Warragul and Drouin.
- Roundabout at the Drouin-Longwarry Road and Princes Way.
- Traffic calming, upgrade and road duplication works in Warragul.
Thursday's meeting follows a recent visit from Roads Minister, the Hon. Ben Carroll MP along the Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road in the wake of recent storm damage, as well as meetings with Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp.
Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss
"I would like to thank Nic and Sara for their time and for continuing their work with us as we advocate for this important funding. The congestion in Drouin and Warragul is only getting worse and until the State Government commits to fund the road network plan, we'll continue to use all communication channels to put our view forcefully forward."
Image: Baw Baw Shire Council CEO, Mark Dupe, Nic Foa (Head of Transport Services, Department of Transport), Mayor Cr Danny Goss and Sara Rhodes-Ward (Regional Director, Regional Roads Victoria) met in the main street of Drouin to discuss traffic congestion and road safety.
