Media Releases

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed funding for Victoria’s rural and regional roads.
“This announcement will benefit roads in western Victoria, including $1.2 million for further improvements to the Henty Highway.  These benefits are from a radical change to road maintenance funding with the Coalition Government announcing a three year, $170 million road maintenance package to address the condition of Victorian roads,” Mr Delahunty said.
“This is a most welcome budget announcement which means that for the first time, VicRoads will have certainty of funding and could develop a longer-term approach to road maintenance,” Mr Delahunty said.

“This Government has maintained and now strengthened its vital focus on Victorian roads, not just across metropolitan areas but state-wide,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Last year’s $45 million Repair and Restore package enabled vital work on roads that had suffered as a result of years of neglect from the former Labor Government, who saw the drought years as an opportunity to ignore Victorian roads without consequence.

“This year’s budget expands the “Repair and Restore” program by allocating $90 million over three years to rebuild roads that have deteriorated and $80 million over two years to resurface worn roads and prevent future damage.”
“In 2013/14 the Coalition Government will spend $466 million on road asset maintenance. This includes the base level of maintenance funding in addition to the first year’s allocation of the new $170 million resurfacing and renewal package.
“This is $83 million more than what Labor provided in its last budget. “
“The funding includes the continuation of our ‘Country Roads and Bridges’ program as part of the Coalition Government’s strong commitment to assist local government in maintaining safe and usable roads,” Mr Delahunty said
VicRoads will now develop a comprehensive program of works to be rolled out across the state, including western Victoria.
“By carrying out a targeted road restoration program, in addition to pavement resurfacing, we will ensure the life of these roads is extended,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said motorists need to take care and be patient on western Victorian roads over the Easter break and school holidays.

“Sixty people have died on Victorian roads so far this year and this has impacted heavily on their family and friends.  This is why we need to take care whilst travelling the coming Easter weekend and school holidays,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Easter long weekend is a great time to spend with family and friends and to enjoy the many activities happening throughout the Lowan electorate, but I ask all road users to be vigilant,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The school holidays are also a time for many families to travel and this means many more vehicles on our roads.” 

Mr Delahunty said motorists need to adhere to the speed limits when travelling throughout western Victoria.

“Drivers need to keep in mind that with extra traffic on local roads they must be patient and allow additional time for their travel, as well as sticking to the road rules,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Over the Easter weekend I urge travellers to take advantage of the “Driver Reviver” sites as well as the many rest areas along our highways, and I wish everyone a safe and happy Easter,” Mr Delahunty said.

More information on ‘Driver Reviver’ sites can be accessed online at www.ses.vic.gov.au/prepare/driver-reviver/places-to-stop

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the widening of Propodollah Road in Nhill has been completed four months ahead of schedule improving access and safety for all road users.

“The Victorian Coalition Government provided $54,000 for the road project which connects Nhill to important local assets such as Luv-a-Duck, Nhill sale yards, and Nhill Aerodrome,” Mr Delahunty said.

“This project is another example of a smart investment that delivers benefits to critical regional services, the local economy and more broadly the Victorian economy,” Mr Delahunty said.

This project improves access to the Nhill Aerodrome, which is an essential asset for the community and plays a key role in providing essential air ambulance transfers and emergency services, as well as commercial and recreational services.

The project also supports industry by improving access to Luv-a-Duck’s main processing plant. The Luv-A-Duck plant is an integral part of the region’s economy employing 140 people and supporting 20 contract growers and eight breeders throughout the Wimmera Southern Mallee region. As well as providing benefits to the local economy it also exports products to Asia, South East Asia, the Pacific Islands and to the Middle East.

The project is part of the Department of Transport’s Transport Investing in Regions initiative and completes the first stage of seal widening of Propodollah Road between Rupp Road and Nhill-Yanac Road.

Mr Delahunty said the project is another example of the Victorian Government’s commitment to invest in regional Victoria.

“Regional cities and country communities are integral to the freight supply chain task in Victoria. The Victorian Government recognises this and is taking action to enhance freight movements on the transport network.”

“The freight task in Victoria is expected to more than double over the next three decades – that’s a rate faster than population and roughly in line with economic growth, and managing that growth will be a considerable challenge.

“This road project in Nhill is great example of how the State Government is working with regional councils to further develop and strengthen transport outcomes in regional Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said visitors to Lake Charlegrark Reserve will enjoy a better experience thanks to a $50,000 road network upgrade which has been completed 6 months ahead of schedule.

This project is part of the Department of Transport’s Transport Investing in Regions initiative and involved the resealing and rehabilitation of 400 metres of deteriorated road within the Lake Charlegrark Reserve.

“The upgraded road network provides improved amenity and safety for the popular Lake by improving access to a range of facilities at the site, including powered accommodation sites, BBQ, toilets and communal areas and access to the lake for boats,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Lake Charlegrark is one of West Wimmera’s most popular tourist destinations and home to the Lake Charlegrark Country Music Marathon for over 20 years now,” Mr Delahunty said.

“It’s great to see these works completed ahead of time and in time for the next big Country Music Marathon at the Lake this weekend, and I’m sure the hundreds of visitors will appreciate the improved usability the upgraded roads provide.”

“The Victorian Government is proud to be working together with our regional councils to upgrade such an essential piece of infrastructure" Mr Mulder said.

Mayor of West Wimmera Shire Council Cr Bruce Meyer said the completion of works is great news for the Shire.

“The works support the role of Lake Charlegrark as one of West Wimmera Shire’s tourism assets and are one of the key priorities of the Lake Charlegrark Reserve Committee of Management’s overall plans for the Reserve,” Cr Meyer said.

Mr Delahunty said this road network upgrade was good news for local residents and visitors to the West Wimmera Shire.

"As well as improving usability, this project will support the visiting tourist trade and provide flow on benefits for the local economy. These works provide much needed improvements to Lake Charlegrark, enhancing the accessibility of the lake and creating a recreational hub for locals and visitors alike,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty along with his Parliamentary colleagues Members for Western Region David O’Brien, Simon Ramsay and David Koch announced today that a contract for resealing works worth $4.1 million has been awarded to Inroads Pty Ltd.
Mr Delahunty said $3.5 million of the funding will cover annual maintenance reseals on arterial roads across western Victoria. Included in this contract is nearly $600,000 as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $45 million repair and restore package.
 “More than 105 kilometres of resealing will be completed on sections of arterial roads including Maroona-Glenthompson Road, Natimuk-Hamilton Road and the Glenelg, Henty, and Western highways as part of the maintenance program,” Mr Delahunty said.
“The arterial road network is monitored regularly and these locations have been identified as priority sites for resealing.
“Applying seal will waterproof the pavement, improve the condition of the road now and protect it against future wear and tear.
“Many roads in western Victoria have suffered from flood events and severe wet weather over the past two years,” Mr Delahunty said.
“Flood repairs have been ongoing throughout western Victoria and these works signal the final stages of repairs.
“Approximately three kilometres of final seals will be placed on flood-impacted sections of the Western Highway near Dadswells Bridge and Dimboola as part of flood recovery works.”
“Now that the weather is improving, motorists and communities will see a lot of activity across the western Victorian arterial road network over the next five months as maintenance and flood recovery works continue.
“I want to remind motorists to drive carefully through work sites and thank communities for their patience while these works are carried out,” Mr Delahunty said.
Works are expected to get underway in December with completion expected in April 2013, weather dependent.

Works will be completed on sections of the following arterial roads:
• Ararat-Halls Gap Road
• Ballarat-Carngham Road
• Ballarat-Maryborough Road
• Daylesford-Ballarat Road
• Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road
• Geelong-Ballan Road
• Glenelg Highway
• Henty Highway
• Maroona-Glenthompson Road
• Myrniong-Trentham Road
• Natimuk-Hamilton Road
• Pyrenees Highway
• Skipton Road
• Stawell-Avoca Road
• Stawell-Warracknabeal Road
• Sunraysia Highway
• Western Highway
• Western Freeway
• Wimmera Highway
• Ararat-Halls Gap Road
• Geelong-Ballan Road
• Western Freeway
• Western Highway
• Wimmera Highway

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty announced today that resealing works worth $3.2 million are underway in the Wimmera region.
Mr Delahunty said $1.58 million of funding will cover annual maintenance reseals on roads in the Wimmera Region.
In addition to improving the quality of the road surface, sealing will waterproof the pavement, and prolong the life of the road.  This will assist in preventing potholes developing, which will improve the safe operation of the arterial road network.
Mr Delahunty said $1.64 million is part of an insurance funding package as a result of the 2011 January floods.
“Many roads in this region have suffered from flood events and severe wet weather over the past two years,” Mr Delahunty said.
Flood repairs have been ongoing throughout the Wimmera area and these works signal the final stages of repairs.
More than 172,000 square metres of final seals will be placed on 19 flood-impacted roads as part of flood recovery works.
Now that the weather is improving, motorists and communities will see a lot of activity in the Wimmera area over the next six months as maintenance and flood recovery works continue.
We want to remind motorists to drive carefully through work sites and thank communities for their patience while these works are carried out.
Further to these works, the Victorian Coalition Government has committed an additional $45 million repair and restore package to target roads in most need throughout the state.
Flood recovery sealing works will be completed on sections of:
• Casterton-Edenhope Road  
• Dimboola-Rainbow Road
• Henty Highway
• Horsham-Drug South Road
• Jeparit-Warracknabeal Road
• Jeparit-Warracknabeal Road
• Kaniva-Edenhope Road
• Natimuk-Francis Road
• Nhill-Harrow Road
• Nhill-Jeparit Road
• Northern Grampians Road

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty today joined in the launch of Victoria’s new plate slogan “Stay Alive Stay Alert”.

“The new number plate slogan is a reminder for people to be vigilant when using our roads, whether as a motorist or pedestrian,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Our country roads network is used daily for freight and community transport and the new number plate slogan will effectively be sending hundreds of thousands of reminders every day to drive safely and “Stay Alert Stay Alive”," Mr Delahunty said.

The new number plates are expected to make their debut in early 2013, when VicRoads now predicts the current number and letter combination for plates will be exhausted.

Mr Delahunty said the initiative built on Victoria’s reputation as a world leader on road safety, and we want to make sure that we keep road safety front and centre for every Victorian.

Last year 287 Victorians lost their lives and more than 5,000 people sustained serious injuries on our roads.  

“When driving, our attention needs to focus on many things – intersections, other vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists, speed limits, other hazards and our own behaviour and this message Stay Alert Stay Alive will act as a constant reminder to motorists about the need to remain focused and drive safely on our roads,” Mr Delahunty said.

"This is also about getting people thinking and talking about improving road safety and we know that continual reminders and reinforcing messages are an important part of road safety public education.”

“The Coalition Government is now inviting Victorians to have further input into the development of a 10-year road safety strategy by responding to a survey and directions paper on road safety.”

 

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed announcements by Minister for Roads Terry Mulder that $255,000 will be invested in widening Casterton-Dartmoor Road and $402,000 will be invested to widen Dorodong Road, near Dergholm.

“Casterton-Dartmoor Road is an important local road that connects the south-western communities of Casterton and Dartmoor; and provides access for vehicles involved in the local timber industry,” Mr Delahunty said.

“It also intersects with the Glenelg Highway, a major arterial road that provides passage for haulage vehicles and other road users to and from South Australia.”

“Widening the road and improving the pavement will make it safer for those heavier vehicles and the other vehicles they share the road with,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Likewise, the Dorodong Road is an important local road that connects the western Wimmera communities of Dergholm and Dorodong; and also provides access across the border to South Australia and the Coonawarra wine region,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The existing road is narrow with narrow shoulders, which creates hazardous conditions for all vehicles, particularly heavy vehicles as they are wider and occupy more space. There is also a steep gully adjacent to the road, which presents a serious risk to drivers should they veer off the road.”

“To rectify this concern, Dorodong Road will be widened and the pavement will be repaired and resealed.”

“Communities such as Dartmoor, Casterton, Dergholm and Dorodong are home to many timber plantations, and the plantation forestry industry plays an important role in the south-west regional economy.

In making the announcement, Minister Mulder said these works are funded through the Local Timber Roads Program, which aims to maintain the quality and safety of local roads utilised by the timber industry.

“I’m pleased this improvement work will be carried out for the benefit of local industry and communities alike,” Mr Delahunty said.

Casterton - Dartmoor Road and Dorodong Road were selected for improvement works based on the Timber Industry Road Evaluation Study (TIRES), which takes into account costs and safety benefits of carrying out improvements.

Works will be carried out in the 2012/13 financial year.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said that each year around 75 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 lose their lives on Victorian roads, about 60 of them men and tragically we’ve had more than our share in recent years.

“A new campaign was launched this week and designed to encourage young men to look after their mates and stay safe on the road, should help reduce the number of senseless deaths on local roads.”

“Premier Ted Baillieu joined forces with Essendon Footballer, Dustin Fletcher in launching the new campaign which will see Victoria’s under 18 Australian Rules completion, the TAC Cup, re-branded in its 21st year to Speed Hurts,” said Mr Delahunty.

“This is a great opportunity to re-enforce the message sent to young drivers about the importance of looking out for your mates and being safe on our roads.”

“To date 53 males have lost their lives on Victorian roads as opposed to 20 females.  This is an increase of six since the same time last year and it’s alarming to know that there has been an increase by 31 per cent of deaths on rural roads since 2011.”

“Families are being torn apart by losing their sons, brothers and mates in avoidable road fatalities caused by either speed, alcohol, drugs or stupidity on our roads and often it is a combination of more than one.”

“It’s time young men started to properly look out for themselves and their mates and help reduce the horrendous toll,” Mr Delahunty said.

New road safety advertisements are due to air this week featuring AFL commentary great, Denis Commetti.

TAC Chief Executive Officer, Janet Dore, said speed remained one of the biggest killers on Victorian roads, with about 30 per cent of all fatal collisions having speed as a major contributing factor.

“Following the launch, the TAC, together with AFL Victoria, will run community events in each of the TAC Cup regions where clubs can celebrate their history, and players and parents can sign a mural showing their commitment to slowing down on the roads, Ms Dore said.

To view the TAC’s new road safety advertisements visit http://www.youtobe.com/TACvictoria

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is inviting the residents of the Lowan electorate to make a submission to the Victorian speed limit review.

“I am joining the Minister for Roads, Terry Mulder and invite western Victorians to make a submission to the Victorian speed limit review,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Many Lowan residents have expressed concern, confusion and frustration at roads with multiple speed limit changes for the likes of school zones, shopping strips and town centres,” Mr Delahunty said.

Transport Minister Mulder in calling for submissions to the review said it was important that speed limits were applied consistently across the state to ensure that they were easy for drivers to adhere to.

“Submissions are now open for Victorians to nominate roads where they believed the speed limits should be reviewed,” Mr Mulder said.

“Safety and mobility on our roads is paramount, and speed limits are set giving consideration to traffic and pedestrians.  However, should people from the Lowan electorate feel there are too many speed changes on a street, or believe they have a solution to make speed limits easier to understand I urge them to make a submission,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

People interested in making a submission may obtain a copy of the Terms of Reference from my electorate offices at 114 Firebrace Street, Horsham, telephone 5382 0097 or 44 Gray Street, Hamilton, telephone 5571 9800 or visit the VicRoads website at

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Submissions are open from 30 August to 11 October 2011and can be sent to speedreview@roads.vic.gov.au or posted to Speed Limit Review, 60 Denmark Street, Kew, Vic, 3101.