Labertouche farmers welcome road funds
including sealing dirt roads, widening intersections and upgrading arterial roads.
“This particular project here at Labertouche will deliver a $36,500 saving to people, and almost $5000 saving in the wear and tear on vehicles,” she said.
Labertouche North Rd farmer Trish Hammond welcomed the announcement. She said suppliers had refused to deliver to her farm due to the condition of the road.
“We’ve had suppliers, people who we buy products from, refuse to deliver to our farm as they don’t want to compromise the safety of their employees and state of their vehicles,” she said. “It will also save us time. “Potholes have meant we have to drive a t a ridiculously slow speed, we have to leave five to 10 minutes earlier.”
Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci said Labertouche North Rd had been on Council’s agenda for some time, and welcomed the funding to help make it a safer road.
“It’s great to get black spot recognition,” he said.
“Number one this will deliver a safer road, but it will also deliver improved productivity through time saving, a lack of dust in summer and lack of mud in winter.
“This road is a key access to DELWP forest land for four-wheel drive enthusiasts, and has been on our agenda for some time.”
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the VFF had pushed for the AIJF as a condition of the farmer group’s support for the sale of the Port of Melbourne lease last year.
“These upgrades will improve productivity across the agriculture supply chain and improve the country road network for all users,” he said.
“Labertouche North Road in particular is an unsealed gravel road that is a real safety risk for farmers and residents and needs to be upgraded.”
Mr Jochinke said the number of projects being funded under the program showed there was a need for continued investment in rural road upgrades and encouraged the government to keep investing in the state’s regions.