Funding detour cops flak
Great Ocean Road repaired at expense of the hinterland
WITH fresh landslips and lane closures, more than $100 million invested and potentially more on the way via a City Deal, the Great Ocean Road is the centre of attention.
But for some southwest councils, the famous coastal route is taking the attention off the poor state of roads in the hinterland.
Corangamite and Colac Otway shires have teamed to push for major multi-million dollar upgrades of the inland roads used by visitors to the Twelve Apostles.
They want state and federal support to improve the roads.
“Recent funding has been allocated to improve the Great Ocean Road but no funding has been allocated to these hinterland routes from the Great Ocean Road to the Princes Highway,” Corangamite Shire mayor Jo Beard said.
“An estimated $29 million is needed to ensure the road infrastructure is of a suitable and safe standard and this number will only increase the longer the problem is ignored.”
More than 2.6 million people visit the Twelve Apostles region annually, two-thirds of them on day trips.
They invariably head back to Melbourne via the CobdenPort Campbell road, Princetown road and Timboon-Colac road on their return to the Princes Highway.
Colac Otway Shire mayor Chris Potter backed Corangamite’s initiative, which looked to deliver recognition for a wider route dubbed the Great Ocean Road North South Loop,.
“Traffic volumes on the Timboon-Colac road continue to grow and our council is absolutely supportive of any up- grades that could be completed improving the visitor journey and the safety for locals who use this road every day.”
Data shows that more than 60 vehicle crashes occurred on the Great Ocean Road or hinterland route during a six-year period. Eight of the crashes involved buses.
“It is essential this funding is provided to ensure these main arterial roads and key intersections are brought up to a safe standard and to ensure we don’t tarnish our international reputation through a poor visitor experience due to road conditions,” Cr Beard said.
The 2015 Christmas Day bushfire led to a multitude of issues with the condition of the Great Ocean Road.
Another landslip, 6km south of bushfire-ravaged Wye River, occurred this week.
Authorities have warned that one lane of the road will be closed until mid-August, while a retaining wall is built.
There has been more than $100 million committed to upgrading the Great Ocean Road over the past five years.
That includes a $50 million, five-year program jointly funded by the Victorian and Federal governments.
The governments are also discussing a potential Geelong and Great Ocean Road City Deal.
The Andrews Government last December confirmed a further $53 million would be spent on geotechnical hazard mitigation works.